1 


CL&tr- 


WUTHERING    HEIGHTS. 


%  Noocl. 


BY 

THE   AUTHOR   OF    "JANE   EYRE." 


NEW    YORK: 

HARPER   &   BROTHERS,   PUBLISHERS, 
82   CLIFF    STREET. 

184  8. 


WUTHEKING  HEIGHTS. 


.  CHAPTER  I. 


1801. — I  have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  my  landlord — the 
solitary  neighbor  that  I  shall  be  troubled  with.  This  is  cer- 
tainly a  beautiful  country !  In  all  England  I  do  not  believe 
that  I  could  have  fixed  on  a  situation  so  completely  removed 
from  the  stir  of  society.  A  perfect  misanthropist's  Heaven — 
and  Mr.  HeathclifF  and  I  are  such  a  suitable  pair  to  divide  the 
desolation  between  us.  A  capital  fellow !  He  little  imagined 
how  my  heart  warmed  toward  him  when  I  beheld  his  black 
eyes  withdraw  so  suspiciously  under  their  brows  as  I  rode  up, 
and  when  his  fingers  sheltered  themselves,  with  a  jealous  reso- 
lution, still  further  in  his  waistcoat,  as  I  announced  my  name. 

"Mr.  HeathclifF ?"  I  said. 

A  nod  was  the  answer. 

"  Mr.  Lockwood,  your  new  tenant,  sir — I  do  myself  the 
honor  of  calling  as  soon  as  possible  after  my  arrival,  to  express 
the  hope  that  I  have  not  inconvenienced  you  by  my  perse- 
verance in  soliciting  the  occupation  of  Thrushcross  Grange  :  I 
heard  yesterday  you  had  had  some  thoughts — " 

"  Thrushcross  Grange  is  my  own,  sir,"  he  interrupted  wincing, 
"  I  should  not  allow  any  one  to  inconvenience  me,  if  I  could 
hinder  it — walk  in  !" 

The  "  walk  in"  was  uttered  with  closed  teeth,  and  expressed 
the  sentiment,  "  Go  to  the  Deuce  !"  Even  the  gate  over  which 
he  leaned  manifested  no  sympathizing  movement  to  the  words  ; 
and  I  think  that  circumstance  determined  me  to  accept  the 
invitation  :  I  felt  interested  in  a  man  who  seemed  more  ex- 
aggeratedly reserved  than  myself. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 


When  he  saw  my  horse's  breast  fairly  pushing  the  barrier,  he 
did  pull  out  his  hand  to  unchain  it,  and  then  sullenly  preceded 
me  up  the  causeway,  calling  as  we  entered  the  court : 

"  Joseph,  take  Mr.  Lockwood's  horse  ;  and  bring  up  some 
wine." 

*'■  Here  we  have  the  whole  establishment  of  domestics,  I 
suppose,"  was  the  reflection  suggested  by  this  compound 
order.  "  No  wonder  the  grass  grows  up  between  the  flags, 
and  cattle  are  the  only  hedge-cutters." 

Joseph  was  an  elderly,  nay,  an  old  man,  very  old,  perhaps, 
though  hale  and  sinewy. 

"  The  Lord  help  us  !"  he  soliloquized  in  an  undertone  of 
peevish  displeasure,  while  relieving  me  of  my  horse  :  looking, 
meantime,  in  my  face  so  sourly,  that  I  charitably ,  conjectured 
he  must  have  need  of  divine  aid  to  digest  his  dinner,  and  his 
pious  ejaculation  had  no  reference  to  my  unexpected  advent. 

Wuthering  Heights  is  the  name  of  Mr.  Heathcliff 's  dwelling. 
"  Wuthering"  being  a  significant  provincial  adjective,  descrip- 
tive of  the  atmospheric  tumult  to  which  its  station  is  exposed  in 
stormy  weather.  Pure,  bracing  ventilation  they  must  have  up 
there  at  all  times,  indeed  :  one  may  guess  the  power  of  the 
north  wind  blowing  over  the  hedge,  by  the  excessive  slant  of  a 
few  stunted  firs  at  the  end  of  the  house  ;  and  by  a  range  of 
gaunt  thorns  all  stretching  their  limbs  one  way,  as  if  craving 
alms  of  the  sun.  Happily,  the  architect  had  foresight  to  build 
it  strong :  the  narrow  windows  are  deeply  set  in  the  wall,  and 
the  corners  defended  with  large  jutting  stones. 

Before  passing  the  threshold,  I  paused  to  admire  a  quantity 
of  grotesque  carving  lavished  over  the  front,  and  especially 
about  the  principal  door,  above  which,  among  a  wilderness  of 
crumbling-  griffins  and  shameless  little  boys,  I  detected  the 
date,  "  1500,"  and  the  name,  "  Hareton  Earnshaw;"  I  would 
have  made  a  few  comments,  and  requested  a  short  history 
of  the  place  from  the  surly  owner,  but  his  attitude  at  the  door 
appeared  to  demand  my  speedy  entrance  or  complete  de- 
parture, and  I  had  no  desire  to  aggravate  his  impatience  pre- 
vious to  inspecting  the  penetralium. 

One  step  brought  us  into  the  family  sitting-room  without  any 
introductory  lobby  or  passage :  they  call  it  hei'e  "  the  house" 
pre-eminently.  It  includes  kitchen  and  parlor  generally;  but  I 
believe  at  Wuthering  Heights,  the  kitchen  is  forced  to  retreat 
altogether  into  another  quarter ;  at  least  I  distinguished  a  chat- 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 


ter  of  tongues  and  a  clatter  of  culinary  utensils  deep  within  j 
and  I  observed  no  signs  of  roasting,  boiling,  or  baking  about 
the  huge  fire-place,  nor  any  glitter  of  copper  saucepans  and  tin 
cullenders  on  the  walls.  One  end,  indeed,  reflected  splendidly 
both  light  and  heat  from  ranks  of  immense  pewter  dishes, 
interspersed  with  silver  jugs  and  tankards,  towering  row  after 
row  in  a  vast  oak  dresser,  to  the  very  roof.  The  latter  had 
never  been  underdrawn,  its  entire  anatomy  lay  bare  to  an  in- 
quiring eye,  except  where  a  frame  of  wood  laden  with  oatcakes, 
and  clusters  of  legs  of  beef,  mutton,  and  ham,  concealed  it. 
Above  the  chimney  were  sundry  villainous  old  guns,  and  a 
couple  of  horse-pistols,  and,  by  way  of  ornament,  three  gaudily 
painted  canisters  disposed  along  its  ledge.  The  floor  was 
of  smooth,  white  stone ;  the  chairs,  high-backed,  primitive 
structures,  painted  green  ;  one  or  two  heavy  black  ones  lurking 
in  the  shade.  In  an  arch,  under  the  dresser,  reposed  a  huge, 
liver-colored  bitch  pointer,  surrounded  by  a  swarm  of  squeal- 
ing puppies  ;   and  other  dogs  haunted  other  recesses. 

The  apartment  and  furniture  would  have  been  nothing  ex- 
trordinary  as  belonging  to  a  homely  northern  farmer,  with  a 
stubborn  countenance,  and  stalwart  limbs,  set  out  to  advantage 
in  knee-breeches  and  gaiters.  Such  an  individual,  seated  in  his 
arm-chair,  his  mug  of  ale  frothing  on  the  round  table  before 
him,  is  to  be  seen  in  any  circuit  of  five  or  six  miles  among 
these  hills,  if  you  go  at  the  right  time  after  dinner.  But  Mr. 
Heathcliff  forms  a  singular  contrast  to  his  abode  and  style  of 
living.  He  is  a  dark-skinned  gipsy  in  aspect,  in  dress  and 
manners  a  gentleman  ;  that  is,  as  much  a  gentleman  as  many  a 
country  squire ;  rather  slovenly,  perhaps,  yet  not  looking  amiss 
with  his  neg-ligfence,  because  he  has  an  erect  and  handsome 
figure  ;  and  rather  morose,  possibly  6ome  people  might  suspect 
him  of  a  degree  of  under-bred  pride.  I  have  a  sympathetic 
chord  within  that  tells  me  it  is  nothing  of  the  sort ;  I  know,  by 
instinct,  his  reserve  springs  from  an  aversion  to  showy  displays 
of  feeling,  to  manifestations  of  mutual  kindliness.  He'll  love 
and  hate,  equally  under  cover,  and  esteem  it  a  species  of  im- 
pertinence to  be  loved  or  hated  again. — No,  I'm  running  on  too 
fast.  I  bestow  my  own  attributes  over  liberally  on  him.  Mr. 
Heathcliff  may  have  entirely  dissimilar  reasons  for  keeping  his 
hand  out  of  the  way,  when  he  meets  a  would-be  acquaintance, 
to  those  which  actuate  me.  Let  me  hope  my  constitution  is 
almost  peculiar ;  my  dear  mother  used  to  say  I  should  liever 


6  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

have  a  comfortable  home,  and  only  last  summer  I  proved  my- 
self perfectly  unworthy  of  one. 

While  enjoying  a  month  of  fine  weather  at  the  sea-coast,  I 
was  thrown  into  the  company  of  a  most  fascinating  creature,  a 
real  goddess,  in  my  eyes,  as  long  as  she  took  no  notice  of  me. 
I  "  never  told  my  love  "  vocally  ;  still,  if  looks  have  language, 
the  merest  idiot  might  have  guessed  I  was  over  head  and  ears ; 
she  understood  me,  at  last,  and  looked  a  return— the  sweetest 
of  all  imaginable  looks — and  what  did  I  do  ]  I  confess  it  with 
shame — shrunk  icily  into  myself,  like  a  snail,  at  every  glance 
retired  colder  and  farther  ;  till,  finally,  the  poor  innocent  was 
led  to  doubt  her  own  senses,  and,  overwhelmed  with  confusion 
at  her  supposed  mistake,  persuaded  her  mamma  to  decamp. 

By  this  curious  turn  of  disposition,  I  have  gained  the  repu- 
tation of  deliberate  heartlessness,  how  undeserved,  I  alone  can 
appreciate. 

I  took  a  seat  at  the  end  of  the  hearthstone  opposite  that 
toward  which  my  landlord  advanced,  and  filled  up  an  interval 
of  silence  by  attempting  to  caress  the  canine  mother,  who  had 
left  her  nursery,  and  was  sneaking  wolfishly  to  the  back  of  my 
legs,  her  lip  curled  up,  and  her  white  teeth  watering  for  a 
snatch. 

My  caress  provoked  a  long,  guttural  snarl. 

"  You'd  better  let  the  dog  alone,"  growled  Mr.  HeathclifF, 
in  unison,  checking  fiercer  demonstrations  with  a  punch  of 
his  foot.  "  She's  not  accustomed  to  be  spoiled — not  kept  for  a 
pet." 

Then,  striding  to  a  side-door,  he  shouted  again, 

"  Joseph." 

Joseph  mumbled  indistinctly  in  the  depths  of  the  cellar;  but 
gave  no  intimation  of  ascending  ;  so  his  master  dived  down  to 
him,  leaving  me  vis-a-vis  with  the  ruffianly  bitch  and  a  pair  of 
grim,  shaggy  sheep-dogs,  who  shared  with  her  a  jealous  guard- 
ianship over  all  my  movements. 

Not  anxious  to  come  in  contact  with  their  fangs,  I  sat  still — 
but,  imagining  they  would  scarcely  understand  tacit  insults,  I 
unfortunately  indulged  in  winking  and  making  faces  at  the  trio, 
and  some  turn  of  my  physiognomy  so  irritated  madam,  that 
she  suddenly  broke  into  a  fury,  and  leapt  on  my  knees.  I  flung 
her  back,  and  hastened  to  interpose  the  table  between  us. 
This  proceeding  roused  the  whole  hive.  Half-a-doz  'i  four 
footed  fiends,  of  various  sizes,  and  ages,  issued  fro?    nidde? 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 


dens  to  the  common  center.  I  felt  my  heels  and  coat  laps 
peculiar  subjects  of  assault ;  and,  parrying  off  the  larger  com- 
batants, as  effectually  as  I  could,  with  the  poker,  I  was  con- 
strained to  demand  aloud  assistance  from  some  of  the  house- 
hold, in  re-establishing  peace. 

Mr.  Heathcliff  and  his  man  climbed  the  cellar  steps  with 
vexatious  phlegm.  I  don't  think  they  moved  one  second  faster 
than  usual,  though  the  hearth  was  an  absolute  tempest  of 
worrying  and  yelping. 

Happily,  an  inhabitant  of  the  kitchen  made  more  dispatch ; 
a  lusty  dame,  with  tucked  up  gown,  bare  arms,  and  fire-flushed 
cheeks,  rushed  into  the  midst  of  us,  flourishing  a  frying-pan, 
and  used  that  weapon,  and  her  tongue,  to  such  purpose,  that 
the  storm  subsided  magically,  and  she  only  remained,  heaving 
like  a  sea  after  a  high  wind,  when  her  master  entered  on  the 
scene. 

"  What  the  devil  is  the  matter  V  he  asked,  eyeing  me  in 
a  manner  that  I  could  ill  endure  after  this  inhospitable  treat- 
ment. 

"  What  the  devil,  indeed  !"  I  muttered.  "  The  herd  of  pos- 
sessed swine  could  have  had  no  worse  spirits  in  them  than 
those  animals  of  yours,  sir.  You  might  as  well  leave  a  stranger 
with  a  brood  of  tigers  !" 

"  They  won't  meddle  with  persons  who  touch  nothing,"  he 
remarked  putting  the  bottle  before  me,  and  restoring  the  dis- 
placed table.  "  The  dogs  do  right  to  be  vigilant.  Take  a  glass 
of  wine  V 

"  No,  thank  you." 

"  Not  bitten,  are  you  V\ 

"  If  I  had  been,  I  would  have  set  my  signet  on  the  biter." 

Heathcliff 's  countenance  relaxed  into  a  grin. 

"  Come,  come,"  he  said,  "  you  are  flurried,  Mr.  Lockwood. 
Here,  take  a  little  wine.  Guests  are  so  exceedingly  rare  in 
this  house  that  I  and  my  dogs,  I  am  willing  to  own,  hardly 
know  how  to  receive  them.     Your  health,  sir  !" 

I  bowed  and  returned  the  pledge  ;  beginning  to  perceive 
that  it  would  be  foolish  to  sit  sulking  for  the  misbehavior 
of  a  pack  of  curs  ;  besides,  I  felt  loth  to  yield  the  fellow 
further  amusement  at  my  expense,  since  his  humor  took  that 
turn. 

He — probably  swayed  by  prudential  considerations  of  the 
folly  of  offending  a  good  tenant — relaxed  a  little  in  the  laconic 


W  U  THER1NG      HEIGHTS. 


style  of  chipping  of  his  pronouns  and  auxiliary  verbs  ;  and  in- 
troduced, what  he  supposed  would  be  a  subject  of  interest  to 
me,  a  discourse  on  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of  my 
present  place  of  retirement. 

I  found  him  very  intelligent  on  the  topics  we  touched  ;  and, 
before  I  went  home,  I  was  encouraged  so  far  as  to  volunteer 
another  visit  to-morrow. 

He  evidently  wished  no  repetition  of  my  intrusion.  I  shall 
go  notwithstanding.  It  is  astonishing  how  sociable  I  feel  my- 
self compared  with  him. 


.  CHAPTER  II. 

Yesterday  afternoon  set  in  misty  and  cold.  I  had  half  a 
mind  to  spend  it  by  my  study  fire,  instead  of  wading  through 
heath  and  mud  to  Wuthering  Heights. 

On  coming  up  from  dinner,  however,  (N.B.,  I  dine  between 
twelve  and  one  o'clock ;  the  housekeeper,  a  matronly  lady  taken 
as  a  fixture  along  with  the  house,  could  not,  or  would  not, 
comprehend  my  request  that  I  might  be  served  at  five.)  On 
mounting  the  stairs  with  this  lazy  intention,  and  stepping  into 
the  room,  I  saw  a  servant-girl  on  her  knees,  surrounded  by 
brushes  and  coal-scuttles,  and  raising  an  infernal  dust  as  she 
extinguished  the  flames  with  heaps  of  cinders.  This  spectacle 
drove  me  back  immediately ;  I  took  my  hat,  and,  after  a  four 
miles'  walk,  arrived  at  HeathcliiF's  garden  gate,  just  in  time  to 
escape  the  first  feathery  flakes  of  a  snow  shower. 

On  that  bleak  hill-top  the  earth  was  hard  with  a  black  frost, 
and  the  air  made  me  shiver  through  every  limb.  Being  unable 
to  remove  the  chain,  I  jumped  over,  and,  running  up  the  flag- 
ged causeway  bordered  with  straggling  gooseberry  bushes, 
knocked  vainly  for  admittance  till  my  knuckles  tingled  and  the 
dogs  howled. 

"  Wretched  inmates  !"  I  ejaculated,  mentally,  "  you  deserve 
perpetual  isolation  from  your  species  for  your  churlish  inhospi- 
tably. At  least,  I  would  not  keep  my  doors  barred  in  the  day- 
time ;  I  don't  care^-I  will  get  in  !" 

So  resolved,  I  grasped  the  latch  and  ghook  it  vehemently.  Vine- 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  0 

gar-faced  Joseph  projected  his  head  from  a  round  window  of 
the  barn. 

"  Whet  are  ye  for  ]"  he  shouted.  "  T"  maister's  dahn  i' 
t'fowld.  G-oa  rahnd  by  th'  end  ut'  laith,  if  yah  went  tuh  spake 
tullbim." 

"  Is  there  nobody  inside  to  open  the  door  V*  I  hallooed, 
responsively. 

"  They's  nobbut  t'  missis,  and  shoo'll  nut  oppen't  an  ye  mak 
yer  flaysome  dins  till  neeght." 

"  Why,  can  not  you  tell  her  who  I  am,  eh,  Joseph  ?" 

"  Nor-ne  me  !  Aw'll  hae  noa  hend  wi't,"  muttered  the  head, 
vanishing. 

The  snow  began  to  drive  thickly.  I  seized  the  handle  to 
essay  another  trial,  when  a  young  man,  without  coat,  and  shoul- 
dering a  pitchfork,  appeared  in  the  yard  behind.  He  bailed  me 
to  follow  him,  and,  after  marching  through  a  wash-house,  and  a 
paved  area  containing  a  coal-shed,  pump,  and  pigeon-cote,  we 
at  length  arrived  in  the  large,  warm,  cheerful  apartment,  where 
I  was  formerly  received. 

It  glowed  delightfully  in  the  radiance  of  an  immense  fire, 
compounded  of  coal,  peat,  and  wood  ;  and  near  the  table,  laid 
for  a  plentiful  evening  meal,  I  was  pleased  to  observe  the 
"  missis,"  an  individual  whose  existence  I  had  never  previously 
suspected. 

I  bowed  and  waited,  thinking  she  would  bid  me  take  a  seat. 
She  looked  at  me,  leaning  back  in  her  chair,  and  remained  mo- 
tionless and  mute. 

"  Rough  weather  !"  I  remarked.  "  I'm  afraid,  Mrs.  Heath- 
cliff,  the  door  must  bear  the  consequence  of  your  servants' 
leisure  attendance  ;  I  had  hard  work  to  make  them  hear  me." 

She  never  opened  her  mouth.  I  stared — she  stared  also. 
At  any  rate,  she  kept  her  eyes  on  me  in  a  cool,  regardless  man- 
ner, exceedingly  embarrassing  and  disagreeable. 

"  Sit  down,"  said  the  young  man,  gruffly.  "  He'll  be  in 
soon." 

I  obeyed,  and  hemmed,  and  called  the  villain  Juno,  who 
deigned,  at  this  second  interview,  to  move  the  extreme  tip  of 
her  tail,  in  token  of  owning  my  acquaintance. 

"  A  beautiful  animal !"  I  commenced  again.  "  Do  you  in- 
tend parting  with  the  little  ones,  madam  I" 

"  They  are  not  mine,"  said  the  amiable  hostess,  more  repel- 
lingly  than  Heathcliff  himself  could  have  replied. 

A* 


10  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

"  Ah,  your  favorites  are  among  these  !"  I  continued,  turning 
to  an  obscure  cushion  full  of  something  like  cats. 

"  A  strange  choice  of  favorites,"  she  observed,  scornfully. 

Unluckily,  it  was  a  heap  of  dead  rabbits.  I  hemmed  once 
more,  and  drew  closer  to  the  hearth,  repeating  my  comment  on 
the  wildness  of  the  evening. 

"  You  should  not  have  come  out,"  she  said,  rising  and  reach- 
ing from  the  chimney  piece  two  of  the  painted  canisters. 

Her  position  before  was  sheltered  from  the  light :  now,  I  had 
a  distinct  view  of  her  whole  figure  and  countenance.  She  was 
slender,  and  apparently  scarcely  past  girlhood  :  an  admirable 
form,  and  the  most  exquisite  little  face  that  I  have  ever  had  the 
pleasure  of  beholding :  small  features,  very  fair ;  flaxen  ring- 
lets, or  rather  golden,  hanging  loose  on  her  delicate  neck ;  and 
eyes — had  they  been  agreeable  in  expression,  they  would  have 
been  irresistible — fortunately  for  my  susceptible  heart,  the  only 
sentiment  they  evinced  hovered  between  scorn  and  a  kind  of 
desperation,  singularly  unnatural  to  be  detected  there. 

The  canisters  were  almost  out  of  her  reach  ;  I  made  a  motion 
to  aid  her ;  she  turned  upon  me  as  a  miser  might  turn,  if  any 
one  attempted  to  assist  him  in  counting  his  gold. 

"  I  don't  want  your  help,"  she  snapped,  "  I  can  get  them  for 
myself." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  I  hastened  to  reply. 

"  Were  you  asked  to  tea  1"  she  demanded,  tying  an  apron 
over  her  neat  black  frock,  and  standing  with  a  spoonful  of  the 
leaf  poised  over  the  pot. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  a  cup,"  I  answered. 

"  Were  you  asked  V  she  repeated. 

"  No ;"  I  said,  half  smiling.  "  You  are  the  proper  person  to 
ask  me." 

She  flung  the  tea  back,  spoon  and  all ;  and  resumed  her 
chair  in  a  pet,  her  forehead  corrugated,  and  her  red  under-lip 
pushed  out  like  a  child's  ready  to  cry. 

Meanwhile,  the  young  man  had  slung  on  to  his  person  a 
decidedly  shabby  upper  garment,  and,  erecting  himself  before 
the  blaze,  looked  down  on  me  from  the  corner  of  his  eyes,  for 
all  the  world  as  if  there  were  some  mortal  feud  unavenged 
between  us.  I  began  to  doubt  whether  he  were  a  servant  or 
not;  his  dress  and  speech  were  both  rude,  entirely  devoid 
of  the  superiority  observable  in  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heathcliff ;  his 
thick,  brown  curls  were  rough  and  uncultivated,  his  whiskers 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  11 

encroached  bearishly  over  his  cheeks,  and  his  hands  were 
embrowned  like  those  of  a  common  laborer;  still  his  bearing 
was  free,  almost  haughty;  and  he  showed  none  of  a  domestic's 
assiduity  in  attending  on  the  lady  of  the  house. 

In  the  absence  of  clear  proofs  of  his  condition,  I  deemed  it 
best  to  abstain  from  noticing  his  curious  conduct,  and,  five 
minutes  afterward,  the  entrance  of  Heathcliff  relieved  me,  in 
some  measure,  from  my  uncomfortable  state. 

"  You  see,  sir,  I  am  come,  according  to  promise  !"  I  ex- 
claimed, assuming  the  cheerful,  "  and  I  fear  I  shall  be  weather- 
bound for  half  an  hour,  if  you  can  afford  me  shelter  during  that 
6pace." 

"  Half  an  hour  V  he  said,  shaking  the  white  flakes  from  his 
clothes ;  "  I  wonder  you  should  select  the  thick  of  a  snow- 
storm to  ramble  about  in.  Do  you  know  that  you  run  a  risk 
of  being  lost  in  the  marshes  ]  People  familiar  with  these 
moors  often  miss  their  road  on  such  evenings,  and,  I  can  tell 
you,  there  is  no  chance  of  a  change  at  present." 

"Perhaps  I  can  get  a  guide  among  your  lads,  and  he  might 
stay  at  the  Grange  till  morning — could  you  spare  me  one  V- 

"  No,  I  could  not." 

"  Oh,  indeed  !     Well  then,  I  must  trust  to  my  own  sagacity." 

"Umph." 

"  Are  you  going  to  mak  th*  tea  V  demanded  he  of  the 
shabby  coat,  shifting  his  ferocious  gaze  from  me  to  the  young 
lady. 

"  Is  he  to  have  any  V  she  asked,  appealing  to  Heathcliff. 

"  Get  it  ready,  will  you  V  was  the  answer,  uttered  so 
savagely  that  I  started.  The  tone  in  which  the  words  were 
said  revealed  a  genuine  bad  nature.  I  no  longer  felt  inclined 
to  call  Heathcliff*  a  capital  fellow. 

When  the  preparations  were  finished,  he  invited  me  with — 

"  Now,  sir,  bring  forward  your  chair."  And  we  all,  in- 
cluding the  rustic  youth,  drew  round  the  table,  an  austere 
silence  prevailing  while  we  discussed  our  meal. 

I  thought,  if  I  had  caused  the  cloud,  it  was  my  duty  to  make 
an  effort  to  dispel  it.  They  could  not  every  day  sit  so  grim  and 
taciturn,  and  it  was  impossible,  however  ill-tempered  they  might 
be,  that  the  universal  scowl  they  wore  was  their  every-day 
countenance. 

•  "  It  is  strange,"  I  began,  in  the  interval  of  swallowing  one 
cup  of  tea,  and  receiving  another,  "  it  is  strange  how  custom 


12  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

can  mold  our  tastes  and  ideas;  many  could  not  imagine  the 
existence  of  happiness  in  a  life  of  such  complete  exile  from  the 
world  as  you  spend,  Mr.  Heathcliff ;  yet,  I'll  venture  to  say, 
that,  surrounded  by  your  family,  and  with  your  amiable  lady  as 
the  presiding  genius  over  your  home  and  heart — " 

"My  amiable  lady!"  he  interrupted,  with  an  almost  dia- 
bolical sneer  on  his  face.     "  Where  is  she — my  amiable  lady!" 

"  Mrs.  Heathcliff,  your  wife,  I  mean." 

"  Well,  yes — Oh  !  you  would  intimate  that  her  spirit  has 
taken  the  post  of  ministering  angel,  and  guards  the  fortunes  of 
Wuthering  Heights,  even  when  her  body  is  gone.     Is  that  it  V9 

Perceiving  myself  in  a  blunder,  I  attempted  to  correct  it. 
I  might  have  seen  there  was  too  great  a  disparity  between  the 
ages  of  the  parties  to  make  it  likely  that  they  were  man  and 
wife.  One  was  about  forty ;  a  period  of  mental  vigor  at  which 
men  seldom  cherish  the  delusion  of  being  married  for  love,  by 
girls  :  that  dream  is  reserved  for  the  solace  of  our  declining 
years.     The  other  did  not  look  seventeen. 

Then  it  flashed  upon  me ;  "  the  clown  at  my  elbow,  who  is 
drinking  his  tea  out  of  a  basin,  and  eating  his  bread  with 
unwashed  hands,  may  be  her  husband.  Heathcliff  junior, 
of  course.  Here  is  the  consequence  of  being  buried  alive  : 
she  has  thrown  herself  away  upon  that  boor,  from  sheer 
ignorance  that  better  individuals  existed  !  A  sad  pity — I  must 
beware  how  I  cause  her  to  regret  her  choice." 

The  last  reflection  may  seem  conceited  ;  it  was  not.  My 
neighbor  struck  me  as  bordering  on  repulsive.  I  knew,  through 
experience,  that  I  was  tolerably  attractive. 

"  Mrs.  Heathcliff  is  my  daughter-in-law,"  said  Heathcliff,  cor- 
roborating my  surmise.  He  turned,  as  he  spoke,  a  peculiar  look 
in  her  direction,  a  look  of  hatred,  unless  he  has  a  most  perverse 
set  of  facial  muscles  that  will  not,  like  those  of  other  people,  in- 
terpret the  language  of  his  soul. 

"  Ah,  certainly — I  see  now ;  you  are  the  favored  possessor  of 
the  beneficent  fairy,"  I  remarked,  turning  to  my  neighbor. 

This  was  worse  than  before;  the  youth  grew  crimson,  and 
clenched  his  fist  with  every  appearance  of  meditated  assault. 
But  he  seemed  to  recollect  himself,  presently ;  and  smothered 
the  storm  in  a  brutal  curse,  muttered  on  my  behalf,  which,  how- 
ever, I  took  care  not  to  notice." 

"Unhappy  in  your  conjectures,  sir !"  observed  my  host; 
"  we  neither  of  us  have  the  privilege  of  owning  your  good  fairy ; 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  13 

her  mate  is  dead.  I  said  she  was  my  daughter-in-law,  therefore 
she  must  have  married  my  son." 

"  And  this  young  man  is — " 

"  Not  my  son,  assuredly  !" 

Heathcliff  smiled  again,  as  if  it  were  rather  too  bold  a  jest  to 
attribute  the  paternity  of  that  bear  to  him. 

"  My  name  is  Hareton  Eamshaw,"  growled  the  other;  "  and 
I'd  counsel  you  to  respect  it !" 

"I've  shown  no  disrespect,"  was  my  reply,  laughing  inter- 
nally at  the  dignity  with  which  he  announced  himself. 

He  fixed  his  eye  on  me  longer  than  I  cared  to  return  the 
stare,  for  fear  I  might  be  tempted  either  to  box  his  ears,  or  ren- 
der my  hilarity  audible.  I  began  to  feel  unmistakably  out  of 
place  in  that  pleasant  family  circle.  The  dismal  spiritual  atmo- 
sphere overcame,  and  more  than  neutralized,  the  glowing  phys- 
ical comforts  round  me ;  and  I  resolved  to  be  cautious  how  I 
ventured  under  those  rafters  a  third  time. 

The  business  of  eating  being  concluded,  and  no  one  uttering 
a  word  of  sociable  conversation,  I  approached  a  window  to  ex- 
amine the  weather. 

A  sorrowful  sight  I  saw;  dark  night  coming  down  prema- 
turely, and  sky  and  hills  mingled  in  one  bitter  whirl  of  wind  and 
suffocating  snow. 

"  I  don't  think  it  possible  for  me  to  get  home  now  without  a 
guide,"  I  could  not  help  exclaiming.  "  The  roads  will  be  bur- 
ied already ;  and  if  they  were  bare  I  could  scarcely  distinguish 
a  foot  in  advance." 

"  Hareton,  drive  those  dozen  sheep  into  the  barn  porch. 
They'll  be  covered  if  left  in  the  fold  all  night ;  and  put  a  plank 
before  them,"  said  Heathcliff. 

"  How  must  I  do  %"  I  continued,  with  rising  irritation. 

There  was  no  reply  to  my  question ;  and  on  looking  round  I 
saw  only  Joseph,  bringing  in  a  pail  of  porridge  for  the  dogs,  and 
Mrs.  Heathcliff,  leaning  over  the  fire,  diverting  herself  with  burn- 
ing a  bundle  of  matches  which  had  fallen  from  the  chimney-piece 
as  she  restored  the  tea-canister  to  its  place. 

The  former,  when  he  had  deposited  his  burden,  took  a  critical 
survey  of  the  room ;  and  in  cracked  tones  grated  out : 

"Aw  woonder  hagh  yah  can  faishion  tuh  stand  thear  i'  idle- 
ness un  war,  when  all  on  'em's  goan  aght !  Bud  yah're  a  nowt, 
and  it's  noa  use  talking — yah'll  niver  mend  uh  yer  ill  ways;  bud 
goa  raight  tuh  t'  divil,  like  yer  mother  afore  ye !" 


14  WUTHERING       HEIGHTS. 

I  imagined,  for  a  moment,  that  this  piece  of  eloquence  was 
addressed  to  me ;  and,  sufficiently  enraged,  stepped  toward  the 
aged  rascal  with  an  intention  of  kicking  him  out  of  the  door. 

Mrs.  HeathclifF,  however,  checked  me  by  her  answer. 

"  You  scandalous  old  hypocrite  !"  she  replied ;  "  are  you  not 
afraid  of  being  carried  away  bodily,  whenever  you  mention  the 
devil's. name?  I  warn  you  to  refrain  from  provoking  me,  or 
I'll  ask  your  abduction  as  a  special  favor.  Stop,  look  here  Jo- 
seph," she  continued,  taking  a  long,  dark  book  from  a  shelf. 
"  I'll  show  you  how  far  I've  progressed  in  the  Black  Art — I 
shall  soon  be  competent  to  make  a  clear  house  of  it.  The  red 
cow  didn't  die  by  chance ;  and  your  rheumatism  can  hardly  be 
reckoned  among  providential  visitations!" 

"Oh,  wicked,  wicked !"  gasped  the  elder,  "may  the  Lord 
deliver  us  from  evil !" 

"  No,  reprobate!  you  are  a  castaway — be  off,  or  I'll  hurt  you 
seriously!  I'll  have  you  all  modeled  in  wax  and  clay;  and 
the  first  who  passes  the  limits  I  fix,  shall — I'll  not  say  what 
he  shall  be  done  to — but,  you'll  see !  Go,  I'm  looking  at 
you!" 

The  little  witch  put  a  mock  malignity  into  her  beautiful  eyes, 
and  Joseph,  trembling  with  sincere  horror,  hurried  out  praying 
and  ejaculating  "  wicked"  as  he  went. 

I  thought  her  conduct  must  be  prompted  by  a  species  of  dreary 
fun ;  and,  now  that  we  were  alone,  I  endeavored  to  interest  her 
in  my  distress. 

"  Mrs.  Heathcliff,"  I  said,  earnestly,  "  you  must  excuse  me 
for  troubling  you — I  presume,  because,  with  that  face,  I'm  sure 
you  can  not  help  being  good-hearted.  Do  point  out  some  land- 
marks by  which  I  may  know  my  way  home — I  have  no  more 
idea  how  to  get  there  than  you  would  have  how  to  get  to 
London !" 

"  Take  the  road  you  came,"  she  answered,  ensconcing  her- 
self in  a  chair,  with  a  candle,  and  the  long  book  open  before 
her.     "  It  is  brief  advice  ;  but  as  sound  as  I  can  give." 

"  Then,  if  you  hear  of  me  being  discovered  dead  in  a  bog,  or 
a  pit  full  of  snow,  your  conscience  won't  whisper  that  it  is 
partly  your  fault  V 

"  How  so  1  I  can  not  escort  you.  They  would'nt  let  me  go  to 
the  end  of  the  garden-wall." 

"  You  /  I  should  be  sorry  to  ask  you  to  cross  the  threshold 
for  my  convenience  on  such  a  night,"  I  cried.     "  I  want  you  to 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  15 

tell  me  my  way,  not  to  show  it ;  or  else  to  persuade  Mr.  Heath- 
cliff  to  give  me  a  guide." 

"  Who  1  There  is  himself,  Earnshaw,  Zillah,  Joseph,  and  I. 
Which  would  you  have  V 

"  Are  there  no  boys  at  the  farm  V 

M  No,  those  are  all." 

"  Then  it  follows  that  I  am  compelled  to  stay." 

V  That  you  may  settle  with  your  host.  I  have  nothing  to  do 
with  it." 

"  I  hope  it  will  be  a  lesson  to  you.  to  make  no  more  rash 
journeys  on  these  hills,"  cried  Heathcliff's  stern  voice  from  the 
kitchen  entrance.  "  As  to  staying  here,  I  don't  keep  accom- 
modations for  visitors ;  you  must  share  a  bed  with  Hareton  or 
Joseph,  if  you  do." 

"  I  can  sleep  on  a  chair  in  this  room,"  I  replied. 

"  No,  no  !  A  stranger  is  a  stranger,  be  he  rich  or  poor — it 
will  not  suit  me  to  permit  any  one  the  range  of  the  place  while 
I  am  off  guard!"  said  the  unmannerly  wretch. 

With  this  insult  my  patience  was  at  an  end.  I  uttered  an 
expression  of  disgust,  and  pushed  past  him  into  the  yard,  run- 
ning against  Earnshaw  in  my  haste.  It  was  so  dark  that  I 
could  not  see  the  means  of  exit,  and  as  I  wandered  round  I  heard 
another  specimen  of  their  civil  behavior  among  each  other. 

At  first  the  young  man  appeared  about  to  befriend  me. 

"  I'll  go  with  him  as  far  as  the  park,"  he  said. 

"  You'll  go  with  him  to  hell !"  exclaimed  his  master,  or  what- 
ever relation  he  bore.  "  And  who  is  to  look  after  the  horses, 
eh]" 

"  A  man's  life  is  of  more  consequence  than  one  evening's 
neglect  of  the  horses ;  somebody  must  go,"  murmured  Mrs. 
Heathcliff,  more  kindly  than  I  expected. 

"  Not  at  your  command  !"  retorted  Hareton.  "  If  you  set 
store  on  him  you'd  better  be  quiet. 

"  Then  I  hope  his  ghost  will  haunt  you ;  and  I  hope  Mr. 
Heathcliff  will  never  get  another  tenant,  till  the  Grange  is  a 
ruin  !"  she  answered,  sharply. 

"  Hearken,  hearken,  shoo's  cursing  on  em  !"  muttered  Joseph, 
toward  whom  I  had  been  steering. 

He  sat  within  earshot,  milking  the  cows  by  the  aid  of  a  lan- 
tern, which  I  seized  unceremoniously,  and  calling  out  that  I 
would  send  it  back  on  the  morrow,  rushed  to  the  nearest 
postern. 


16  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  Maister,  maister,  he's  staling  t'  lantern  I"  shouted  the  an- 
cient, pursuing  my  retreat.  "  Hey,  Guasher !  Hey,  dog ! 
Hey,  wolf,. holld  him,  holld  him  !" 

On  opening  the  little  door  two  hairy  monsters  flew  at  my 
throat,  bearing  me  down  and  extinguishing  the  light,  while  a 
mingled  guffaw  from  Heathcliff  and  Hareton  put  the  copestone 
on  my  rage  and  humiliation. 

Fortunately  the  beasts  seemed  more  bent  on  stretching  their 
paws  and  yawning  and  flourishing  their  tails,  than  devouring 
me  alive;  but  they  would  suffer  no  resurrection,  and  I  was 
forced  to  lie  till  their  malignant  masters  pleased  to  deliver  me  ; 
then  hatless,  and  trembling  with  wrath,  I  ordered  the  miscre- 
ants to  let  me  out — on  their  peril  to  keep  me  one  minute  longer 
— with  several  incoherent  threats  of  retaliation,  that,  in  their  in- 
definite depth  of  virulence,  smacked  of  King  Lear. 

The  vehemence  of  my  agitation  brought  on  a  copious  bleed- 
ing at  the  nose,  and  still  Heathcliff  laughed,  and  still  I  scolded. 
I  don't  know  what  would  have  concluded  the  scene,  had  there 
not  been  one  person  at  hand  rather  more  rational  than  myself, 
and  more  benevolent  than  my  entertainer.  This  was  Zillah, 
the  stout  housewife ;  who  at  length  issued  forth  to  inquire  into 
the  nature  of  the  uproar.  She  thought  that  some  of  them  had 
been  laying  violent  hands  on  me ;  and,  not  daring  to  attack 
her  master,  she  turned  her  vocal  artillery  against  the  younger 
scoundrel. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Earnshaw,"  she  cried,  "  I  wonder  what  you'll 
have  agait  next !  Are  we  going  to  murder  folk  on  our  very 
door-stones'?  I  see  this  house  will  never  do  for  me — look  at 
t'  poor  lad,  he's  fair  choking  !  Wisht,  wisht !  you  mun'n't  go 
on  so — come  in,  and  I'll  cure  that.     There,  now,  hold  ye  still." 

With  these  words  she  suddenly  splashed  a  pint  of  icy  water 
down  my  neck,  and  pulled  me  into  the  kitchen.  Mr.  Heath- 
cliff followed,  his  accidental  merriment  expiring  quickly  in  his 
habitual  moroseness. 

I  was  sick  exceedingly,  and  dizzy  and  faint ;  and  thus  com- 
pelled, perforce,  to  accept  lodgings  under  his  roof.  He  told 
Zillah  to  give  me  a  glass  of  brandy,  and  then  passed  on  to  the 
inner  room,  while  she  condoled  with  me  on  my  sorry  predica- 
ment, and  having  obeyed  his  orders,  whereby  I  was  somewhat 
revived,  ushered  me  to  bed. 


CHAPTER  III. 

While  leading  the  way  up-stairs,  she  recommended  that  I 
should  hide  the  candle  and  not  make  a  noise,  for  her  master 
had  an  odd  notion  about  the  chamber  she  would  put  me  in,  and 
never  let  any  body  lodge  there  willingly. 

I  asked  the  reason. 

She  did  not  know,  she  answered  ;  she  had  lived  there  only  a 
year  or  two,  and  they  had  so  many  queer  goings  on  she  could 
not  begin  to  be  curious. 

Too  stupefied  to  be  curious  myself,  I  fastened  my  door  and 
glanced  round  for  the  bed.  The  whole  furniture  consisted  of  a 
chair,  a  clothes-press,  and  a  large  oak  case,  with  squares  cut  out 
near  the  top,  resembling  coach  windows. 

Having  approached  this  structure,  I  looked  inside,  and  per- 
ceived it  to  be  a  singular  sort  of  old-fashioned  couch,  very  con- 
veniently designed  to  obviate  the  necessity  for  every  member 
of  the  family  having  a  room  to  himself.  In  fact,  it  formed  a  lit- 
tle closet ;  and  the  ledge  of  a  window,  which  it  inclosed,  served 
as  a  table. 

I  slid  back  the  panneled  sides,  got  in  with  my  light,  pulled 
them  together  again,  and  felt  secure  against  the  vigilance  of 
Heath  cliff  and  every  one  else. 

The  ledge,  where  I  placed  my  candle,  had  a  few  mildewed 
books  piled  up  in  one  corner,  and  it  was  covered  with  writing 
scratched  on  the  paint.  This  writing,  however,  was  nothing  but 
a  name  repeated  in  all  kinds  of  characters,  large  and  small — 
Catherine  Earnshaw,  here  and  there  varied  to  Catherine  Heath- 
cliff,  and  then  again  to  Catherine  Linton. 

In  vapid  listlessness  I  leaned  my  head  against  the  window, 
and  continued  spelling  over  Catherine  Earnshaw — Heathcliff — 
Linton,  till  my  eyes  closed  ;  but  they  had  not  rested  five  min- 
utes when  a  glare  of  white  letters  started  from  the  dark,  as 
vivid  as  specters — the  air  swarmed  with  Catherines;  and,  rous- 
ing myself  to  dispel  the  obtrusive  name,  I  discovered  my  candle- 
wick  reclining  on  one  of  the  antique  volumes,  and  perfuming  the 
place  with  an  odor  of  roasted  calf-skin. 

I  snuffed  it  off,  and,  very  ill  at  ease  under  the  influence  of  cold 
and  lingering  nausea,  sat  up  and  spread  open  the  injured  tome 


18  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

on  my  knee.  It  was  a  Testament,  in  lean  type,  and  smelling 
dreadfully  musty  :  a  fly-leaf  bore  the  inscription — "  Catherine 
Earnshaw,  her  book,"  and  a  date  some  quarter  of  a  century 
back. 

I  shut  it,  and  took  up  another  and  another,  till  I  had  exam- 
ined all.  Catherine's  library  was  select,  and  its  state  of  dilapi- 
dation proved  it  to  have  been  well  used,  though  not  altogether 
for  a  legitimate  purpose ;  scarcely  one  chapter  had  escaped  a 
pen-and-ink  commentary,  at  least  the  appearance  of  one,  cover- 
ing every  morsel  of  blank  that  the  printer  had  left. 

Some  were  detached  sentences,  other  parts  took  the  form  of  a 
regular  diary,  scrawled  in  an  unformed,  childish  hand.  At  the 
top  of  an  extra  page,  quite  a  treasure  probably  when  first  lighted 
on,  I  was  greatly  amused  to  behold  an  excellent  caricature  of  my 
friend  Joseph,  rudely  yet  powerfully  sketched. 

An  immediate  interest  kindled  within  me  for  the  unknown 
Catherine,  and  I  began  forthwith  to  decipher  her  faded  hiero- 
glyphics. 

"  An  awful  Sunday  !"  commenced  the  paragraph  beneath. 
"  I  wish  my  father  were  back  again.  Hindley  is  a  detestable 
substitute — his  conduct  to  Heathcliffis  atrocious — H.  and  I  are 
going  to  rebel — we  took  our  initiatory  step  this  evening. 

"  All  day  had  been  flooding  with  rain ;  we  could  not  go  to 
church,  so  Joseph  must  needs  get  up  a  congregation  in  the  gar- 
ret ;  and,  while  Hindley  and  his  wife  basked  down  stairs  before 
a  comfortable  fire,  doing  any  thing  but  reading  their  Bibles,  I'll 
answer  for  it,  Heathcliff,  myself,  and  the  unhappy  plow-boy  were 
commanded  to  take  our  prayer-books,  and  mount.  We  were 
ranged  in  a  row  on  a  sack  of  corn,  groaning  and  shivering,  and 
hoping  that  Joseph  would  shiver  too,  so  that  he  might  give  us  a 
short  homily  for  his  own  sake.  A  vain  idea  !  The  service  lasted 
precisely  three  hours,  and  yet  my  brother  had  the  face  to  ex- 
claim, when  he  saw  us  descending, 

"  '  What,  done  already  !' 

"  On  Sunday  evenings  we  used  to  be  permitted  to  play,  if  we 
did  not  make  much  noise ;  now  a  mere  titter  is  sufficient  to  send 
us  into  corners ! 

"  '  You  forget  you  have  a  master  here,'  says  the  tyrant.  '  I'll 
demolish  the  first  who  puts  me  out  of  temper !  I  insist  on  per- 
fect sobriety  and  silence.  Oh,  boy !  was  that  you  ?  Frances, 
darling,  pull  his  hair  as  you  go  by :  I  heard  him  snap  his  fin- 
gers.' 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  19 

"  Frances  pulled  his  hair  heartily,  and  then  went  and  seated 
herself  on  her  husband's  knee ;  and  there  they  were,  like  two 
babies,  kissing  and  talking  nonsense  by  the  hour — foolish  palaver 
that  we  should  be  ashamed  of. 

"  We  made  ourselves  as  snug  as  our  means  allowed  in  the 
arch  of  the  dresser.  I  had  just  fastened  our  pinafores  together, 
and  hung  them  up  for  a  curtain,  when  in  comes  Joseph  on  an 
errand  from  the  stables.  He  tears  down  my  handiwork,  boxes 
my  ears,  and  croaks, 

"  J  T'  maister  nobbut  just  buried,  and  Sabbath  nut  oe'red,  und 
t'  sahnd,  uh't  gospel  still  i'  yer  lugs,  and  yah  darr  be  laiking ! — 
shame  on  ye  !  sit  ye  dahn,  ill  childer !  they's  good  books  eneugh 
if  ye'll  read  'em ;  sit  ye  dahn,  and  think  uh  yer  sowls  !' 
•  "  Saying  this,  he  compelled  us  so  to  square  our  positions  that 
we  might  receive,  from  the  far-off  fire,  a  dull  ray  to  show  us  the 
text  of  the  lumber  he  thrust  upon  us. 

"  I  could  not  bear  the  employment.  I  took  my  dingy  volume 
by  the  scroop  and  hurled  it  into  the  dog-kennel,  vowing  I  hated 
a  good  book. 

"  Heathcliff  kicked  his  to  the  same  place. 

"  Then  there  was  a  hubbub  ! 

"  '  Maister  Hindley  !'  shouted  our  chaplain.  '  Maister,  coom 
hither !  Miss  Cathy's  riven  th'  back  off  Th'  Helmet  uh  Salva- 
tion, un'  Heathcliff 's  pawsedhis  fit  intuh  t'  first  part  uh  T'  Brooad 
Way  to  Destruction !  It's  fair  flaysome  ut  yah  let  'em  goa  on 
this  gait.  Ech  !  th'  owd  man  ud  uh  laced  'em  properly — bud 
he's  goan !' 

"  Hindley  hurried  up  from  his  paradise  on  the  hearth,  and, 
seizing  one  of  us  by  the  collar  and  the  other  by  the  arm,  hurled 
both  into  the  back  kitchen,  where,  Joseph  asseverated,  '  owd 
Nick'  would  fetch  us  as  sure  as  we  were  living;  and,  so  com- 
forted, we  each  sought  a  separate  nook  to  await  his  advent. 

"  I  reached  this  book  and  a  pot  of  ink  from  the  shelf,  and 
pushed  the  house-door  ajar  to  give  me  light,  and  I  have  got  the 
time  on  with  writing  for  twenty  minutes ;  but  my  companion  is 
impatient,  and  proposes  that  we  should  appropriate  the  dairy- 
woman's  cloak  and  have  a  scamper  on  the  moors  under  its  shel- 
ter. A  pleasant  suggestion — and  then,  if  the  surly  old  man  come 
in,  he  may  believe  his  prophecy  verified — we  can  not  be  damper 

or  colder  in  the  rain  than  we  are  here." 

####### 


20  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

I  suppose  Catherine  fulfilled  her  project,  for  the  next  sentence 
took  up  another  subject ;  she  waxed  lachrymose. 

"  How  little  did  I  dream  that  Hindley  would  ever  make  me 
cry  so !"  she  wrote.  "  My  head  aches  till  I  can  not  keep  it  on 
the  pillow  ;  and  still  I  can't  give  over.  Poor  Heathcliff !  Hind- 
ley  calls  him  a  vagabond,  and  won't  let  him  sit  with  us,  nor  eat 
with  us  any  more ;  and  he  says  he  and  I  must  not  play  together, 
and  threatens  to  turn  him  out  of  the  house  if  we  break  his 
orders. 

"  He  has  been  blaming  our  father  (how  dared  he  ?)  for  treat- 
ing H.  too  liberally,  and  swears  he  will  reduce  him  to  his  right 
place — " 

#.  #  #  #  # 

I  began  to  nod  drowsily  over  the  dim  page  ;  my  eye  wan- 
dered from  manuscript  to  print.  I  saw  a  red  ornamented  title — 
"  Seventy  Times  Seven,  and  the  First  of  the  Seventy-First.  A 
Pious  Discourse  delivered  by  the  Reverend  Jabes  Branderham, 
in  the  Chapel  of  Gimmerden  Sough."  And  while  I  was,  half 
consciously,  worrying  my  brain  to  guess  what  Jabes  Brander- 
ham would  make  of  his  subject,  I  sank  back  in  bed,  and  fell 
asleep. 

Alas,  for  the  effects  of  bad  tea  and  bad  temper !  what  else 
could  it  be  that  made  me  pass  such  a  terrible  night  1  I  don't 
remember  another  that  I  can  at  all  compare  with  it  since  I  was 
capable  of  suffering. 

I  began  to  dream,  almost  before  I  ceased  to  be  sensible  of  my 
locality.  I  thought  it  was  morning ;  and  I  had  set  out  on  my 
way  home  with  Joseph  for  a  guide.  The  snow  lay  yards  deep 
in  our  road ;  and,  as  we  floundered  on,  my  companion  wearied 
me  with  constant  reproaches  that  I  had  not  brought  a  pilgrim's 
staff:  telling  me  I  could  never  get  into  the  house  without  one, 
and  boastfully  flourishing  a  heavy-headed  cudgel,  which  I  un- 
derstood to  be  so  denominated. 

For  a  moment  I  consider  it  absurd  that  I  should  need  such  a 
weapon  to  gain  admittance  into  my  own  residence.  Then  a 
new  idea  flashed  across  me.  I  was  not  going  there ;  we  were 
journeying  to  hear  the  famous  Jabes  Branderham  preach  from 
the  text — "  Seventy  Times  Seven ;"  and  either  Joseph,  the 
preacher,  or  I  had  committed  the  "  First  of  the  Seventy  First," 
and  were  to  be  publicly  exposed  and  excommunicated. 

We  came  to  the  chapel — I  have  passed  it  really  in  my  walks 
twice  or  thrice — it  lies  in  a  hollow  between  two  hills — an  ele- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  21 

vated  hollow  near  a  swamp,  whose  peaty  moisture  is  said  to 
answer  all  the  purposes  of  embalming  on  the  few  corpses  de- 
posited there.  The  roof  has  been  kept  whole  hitherto,  but  as 
the  clergyman's  stipend  is  only  twenty  pounds  per  annum,  and 
a  house  with  two  rooms,  threatening  speedily  to  determine  into 
one,  no  clergyman  will  undertake  the  duties  of  pastor,  especially 
as  it  is  currently  reported  that  his  flock  would  rather  let  him 
starve  than  increase  the  living  by  one  penny  from  their  own 
pockets.  However,  in  my  dream,  Jabes  had  a  full  and  attentive 
congregation  :  and  he  preached — good  God — what  a  sermon  ! 
Divided  into  four  hundred  and  ninety  parts — each  fully  equal  to 
an  ordinary  address  from  the  pulpit — and  each  discussing  a 
separate  sin  !  Where  he  searched  for  them,  I  can  not  tell ;  he 
had  his  private  manner  of  interpreting  the  phrase,  and  it  seemed 
necessary  the  brother  should  sin  different  sins  on  every  occasion. 

They  were  of  the  most  curious  character — odd  trangressions 
that  I  never  imagined  previously. 

Oh,  how  weary  I  grew.  How  I  writhed,  and  yawned,  and 
nodded,  and  revived  !  How  I  pinched  and  pricked  myself,  and 
rubbed  my  eyes,  and  stood  up,  and  sat  down  again,  and  nudged 
Joseph  to  inform  me  if  he  would  ever  have  done  !" 

I  was  condemned  to  hear  all  out — finally,  he  reached  the 
"  First  of  the  Seventy- First."  At  that  crisis  a  sudden  inspiration 
descended  on  me  ;  I  was  moved  to  rise  and  denounce  Jabes 
Brand erham  as  the  sinner  of  the  sin  that  no  Christian  need 
pardon. 

"  Sir,"  I  exclaimed,  "  sitting  here  within  these  four  walls,  at 
one  stretch,  I  have  endured  and  forgiven  the  four  hundred  and 
ninety  heads  of  your  discourse.  Seventy  times  seven  times 
have  I  plucked  up  my  hat,  and  been  about  to  depart. — Seventy 
times  seven  times  have  you  preposterously  forced  me  to  resume 
my  seat.  The  four  hundred  and  ninety-first  is  too  much.  Fel- 
low martyrs,  have  at  him  !  Drag  him  down,  and  crush  him  to 
atoms,  that  the  place  which  knows  him  may  know  him  no 
more !" 

"  Thou  art  the  Man!"  cried  Jabes,  after  a  solemn  pause, 
leaning  over  his  cushion.  "  Seventy  times  seven  times  didst 
thou  gapingly  contort  thy  visage — seventy  times  seven  did  I 
take  counsel  with  my  soul.  Lo,  this  is  human  weakness  ;  this 
also  may  be  absolved  !  The  First  of  the  Seventy-First  is  come. 
"Brethren,  execute  upon  him  the  judgment  written !  such  honor 
have  all  His  saints  !" 


22  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

With  that  concluding  word,  the  whole  assembly,  exalting 
their  pilgrim's  staves,  rushed  round  me  in  a  body,  and  I,  having 
no  weapon  to  raise  in  self-defense  commenced  grappling  with 
Joseph,  my  nearest  and  most  ferocious  assailant,  for  his.  In 
the  confluence  of  the  multitude,  several  clubs  crossed ;  blows 
aimed  at  me  fell  on  other  sconces.  Presently  the  whole  chapel 
resounded  with  rappings  and  counter-rappings.  Every  man's 
hand  was  against  his  neighbor ;  and  Branderham,  unwilling  to 
remain  idle,  poured  forth  his  zeal  in  a  shower  of  loud  taps  on 
the  boards  of  the  pulpit,  which  responded  so  smartly,  that,  at 
last,  to  my  unspeakable  relief,  they  woke  me. 

And  what  was  it  that  had  suggested  the  tremendous  tumult  1 
what  had  played  Jabes'  part  in  the  row  1  Merely  the  branch 
of  a  fir-tree  that  touched  my  lattice,  as  the  blast  wailed  by,  and 
rattled  its  dry  cones  against  the  panes  ! 

I  listened  doubtingly  an  instant ;  detected  the  disturber,  then 
turned  and  dozed,  and  dreamed  again ;  if  possible,  still  more 
disagreeably  than  before. 

This  time  I  remembered  I  was  lying  in  the  oak  closet,  and  I 
heard  distinctly  the  gusty  wind,  and  the  driving  of  the  snow ;  I 
heard  also  the  fir-bough  repeat  its  teasing  sound,  and  ascribed  it 
to  the  right  cause ;  but  it  annoyed  me  so  much  that  I  resolved 
to  silence  it,  if  possible ;  and  I  thought  I  rose  and  endeavored 
to  unhasp  the  casement.  The  hook  was  soldered  into  the 
staple,  a  circumstance  observed  by  me,  when  awake,  but  for- 
gotten. 

"  I  must  stop  it,  nevertheless !"  I  muttered,  knocking  my 
knuckles  through  the  glass,  and  stretching  an  arm  out  to  seize 
the  importunate  branch  :  instead  of  which,  my  fingers  closed  on 
the  fingers  of  a  little,  ice-cold  hand  ! 

The  intense  horror  of  nightmare  came  over  me ;  I  tried  to 
draw  back  my  arm,  but  the  hand  clung  to  it,  and  a  most  melan- 
choly voice  sobbed — 

"  Let  me  in — let  me  in !" 

"  Who  are  you  V  I  asked,  struggling  meanwhile  to  disengage 
myself. 

"  Catherine  Linton,"  it  replied,  shiveringly  (why  did  I  think 
of  Linton  ?  I  had  read  Earnshaw,  twenty  times  for  Linton), 
"  I'm  come  home,  I'd  lost  my  way  on  the  moor !" 

As  it  spoke  I  discerned,  obscurely,  a  child's  face  looking 
through  the  window — -Terror  made  me  cruel ;  and  finding  it 
useless  to  attempt  shaking  the  creature  off,  I  pulled  its  wrist  on 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  23 

to  the  broken  pane,  and  rubbed  it  to  and  fro  till  the  blood  ran 
down  and  soaked  the  bed-clothes  :  still  it  wailed,  "  Let  me  in  !" 
and  maintained  its  tenacious  gripe,  almost  maddening  me  with 
fear. 

"  How  can  I  ?"  I  said  at  length.  "Let  me  go,  if  you  want 
me  to  let  you  in  !" 

The  fingers  relaxed,  I  snatched  mine  through  the  hole,  hur- 
riedly piled  the  books  up  in  a  pyramid  against  it,  and  stopped 
my  ears  to  exclude  the  lamentable  prayer. 

I  seemed  to  keep  them  closed  above  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
yet  the  instant  I  listened  again,  there  was  the  doleful  cry  moan- 
ing on. 

"  Begone  !"  I  shouted,  "  I'll  never  let  you  in,  not  if  you  beg 
for  twenty  years !" 

"  It's  twenty  years,"  mourned  the  voice,  "  twenty  years,  I've 
been  a  waif  for  twenty  years  !" 

Thereat  began  a  feeble  scratching  outside,  and  the  pile  of 
books  moved,  as  if  thrust  forward. 

I  tried  to  jump  up ;  but  could  not  stir  a  limb,  and  so  yelled 
aloud,  in  a  frenzy  of  fright. 

To  my  confusion,  I  discovered  the  yell  was  not  ideal.  Hasty 
footsteps  approached  my  chamber  door  :  somebody  pushed  it 
open  with  a  vigorous  hand,  and  a  light  glimmered  through  the 
squares  at  the  top  of  the  bed.  I  sat  shuddering  yet,  and  wiping 
the  perspiration  from  my  forehead :  the  intruder  appeared  to 
hesitate,  and  muttered  to  himself. 

At  last  he  said  in  a  half-whisper,  plainly  not  expecting  an 
answer, 

"  Is  any  one  here  ]" 

I  considered  it  best  to  confess  my  presence,  for  I  knew  Heath- 
cliff's  accents,  and  feared  he  might  search  further  if  I  kept 
quiet. 

With  this  intention,  I  turned  and  opened  the  panels— I  shall 
not  soon  forget  the  effect  my  action  produced. 

Heathcliff  stood  near  the  entrance  in  his  shirt  and  trowsers ; 
with  a  candle  dripping  over  his  fingers,  aud  his  face  as  white  as 
the  wall  behind  him.  The  first  creak  of  the  oak  startled  him 
like  an  electric  shock  :  the  light  leaped  from  his  hold  to  a  dis- 
tance of  some  feet,  and  hig  agitation  was  so  extreme  that  he 
could  hardly  pick  it  up. 

"  It  is  only  your  guest,  sir,"  I  called  out,  desirous  to  spare  him 
the  humiliation  of  exposing  his  cowardice  further.     "  I  had  the 


24  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

misfortune  to  scream  in  my  sleep,  owing  to  a  frightful  nightmare. 
I'm  sorry  I  disturbed  you." 

"Oh,  God  confound  you,  Mr.  Lockwood  !  I  wish  you  were 

at  the ,"  commenced  my  host,  setting  the  candle  on  a  chair, 

because  he  found  it  impossible  to  hold  it  steady. 

"And  who  showed  you  up  to  this  room]"  he  continued, 
crushing  his  nails  into  his  palms,  and  grinding  his  teeth  to  sub- 
due the  maxillary  convulsions.  "  Who  was  it  ]  I've  a  good 
mind  to  turn  them  out  of  the  house  this  moment." 

"  It  was  your  servant  Zillah,"  I  replied,  flinging  myself  on  the 
floor,  and  rapidly  resuming  my  garments.  "  I  should  not  care 
if  you  did,  Mr.  Heathcliff ;  she  richly  deserves  it.  I  suppose 
that  she  wanted  to  get  another  proof  that  the  place  was  haunt- 
ed, at  my  expense.  Well,  it  is — swarming  with  ghosts  and 
goblins.  You  have  reason  in  shutting  it  up,  I  assure  you.  No 
one  will  thank  you  for  a  doze  in  such  a  den !" 

"  What  do  you  mean  V-]  asked  Heathcliff,  "  and  what  are  you 
doing1?  Lie  down  and  finish  out  the  night,  since  you  are  here ; 
but,  for  Heaven's  sake,  don't  repeat  that  horrid  noise.  Nothing 
could  excuse  it,  unless  you  were  having  your  throat  cut." 

"  If  the  little  fiend  had  got  in  at  the  window,  she  probably 
would  have  strangled  me  !"  I  returned.  "  I'm  not  going  to  en- 
dure the  persecutions  of  your  hospitable  ancestors,  again.  Was 
not  the  Reverend  Jabes  Branderham  akin  to  you  on  the  mother's 
side  %  And  that  minx,  Catherine  Linton,  or  Earnshaw,  or  how- 
ever she  was  called — she  must  have  been  a  changeling — wicked 
little  soul.  She  told  me  she  had  been  walking  the  earth  these 
twenty  years  :  a  just  punishment  for  her  mortal  transgressions, 
I've  no  doubt." 

Scarcely  were  these  words  uttered,  when  I  recollected  the 
association  of  Heathcliff 's  with  Catherine's  name  in  the  book, 
which  had  completely  slipped  from  my  memory  till  thus 
awakened.  I  blushed  at  my  inconsideration  ;  but,  without 
showing  further  consciousness  of  the  offense,  I  hastened  to  add, 

The  truth  is,  sir,  I  passed  the  first  part  of  the  night  in" — 
Here  I  stopped  afresh — I  was  about  to  say  "  perusing  those  old 
volumes  ;"  then  it  would  have  revealed  my  knowledge  of  their 
written,  as  well  as  their  printed  contents  ;  so  correcting  myself, 
I  went  on, 

"  In  spelling  over  the  name  scratched  on  that  window-ledge. 
A  monotonous  occupation,  calculated  to  set  me  asleep,  like 
counting,  or" — 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  25 

"  What  can  you  mean,  by  talking  in  this  way  to  me  /"  thun- 
dered Heathcliff  with  savage  vehemence.  "  How — how  dare 
you,  under  my  roof — God !  he's  mad  to  speak  so !"  and  he 
struck  his  forehead  with  rage. 

I  did  not  know  whether  to  resent  this  language,  or  pursue 
my  explanation ;  but  he  seemed  so  powerfully  affected  that  I 
took  pity,  and  proceeded  with  my  dreams  ;  affirming  I  had 
never  heard  the  appellation  of  "  Catherine  Linton"  before,  but 
reading  it  often  over  produced  an  impression  which  personified 
itself  when  I  had  no  longer  my  imagination  under  control. 

Heathcliff  gradually  fell  back  into  the  shelter  of  the  bed,  as  I 
spoke,  finally  sitting  down  almost  concealed  behind  it.  I 
guessed,  however,  by  his  irregular  and  intercepted  breathing, 
that  he  struggled  to  vanquish  an  access  of  violent  emotion. 

Not  liking  to  show  him  that  I  heard  the  conflict,  I  continued 
my  toilet  rather  noisily,  looked  at  my  watch,  and  soliloquized 
on  the  length  of  the  night : 

"  Not  three  o'clock,  yet !  I  could  have  taken  oath  it  had  been 
six — time  stagnates  here — we  must  surely  have  retired  to  rest 
at  eight !" 

"  Always  at  nine  in  winter,  and  always  rise  at  four,"  said  my 
host,  suppressing  a  groan;  and,  as  I  fancied,  by  the  motion  of 
his  shadow's  arm,  dashing  a  tear  from  his  eyes. 

"Mr.  Lockwood,"  he  added,  "you  may  go  into  my  room; 
you'll  only  be  in  the  way,  coming  down  stairs  so  early  :  and 
your  childish  outcry  has  sent  sleep  to  the  devil  for  me." 

"  And  for  me  too,"  I  replied.  "  I'll  walk  in  the  yard  till 
daylight,  and  then  I'll  be  off;  and  you  need  not  dread  a  repeti- 
tion of  my  intrusion.  I  am  now  quite  cured  of  seeking  pleasure 
in  society,  be  it  country  or  town.  A  sensible  man  ought  to  find 
sufficient  company  in  himself." 

"Delightful  company!"  muttered  Heathcliff.  "Take  the 
candle,  and  go  where  you  please — I  shall  join  you  directly. 
Keep  out  of  the  yard  though — the  dogs  are  unchained;  and  the 
house — Juno  mounts  sentinel  there — and — nay,  you  can  only 
ramble  about  the  steps  and  passages — but  away  with  you — I'll 
come  in  two  minutes." 

I  obeyed,  so  far  as  to  quit  the  chamber  ;  when,  ignorant  where 
the  narrow  lobbies  led,  I  stood  still,  and  was  witness,  involun- 
tarily, to  a  piece  of  superstition  on  the  part  of  my  landlord,  which 
belied,  oddly,  his  apparent  sense. 

He  got  upon  the  bed,  and  wrenched  open  the  lattice,  burst- 

B 


26  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

ing,  as  he  pulled  at  it,  into  an  uncontrollable  passion  of 
tears.     - 

"  Come  in  !  come  in  !"  he  sobbed.  "  Cathy,  do  come.  Oh, 
do — once  more  !  Oh  !  my  heart's  darling,  hear  me  this  time — 
Catherine,  at  last !" 

The  specter  showed  a  specter's  ordinary  caprice ;  it  gave  no 
sign  of  being ;  but  the  snow  and  wind  whirled  wildly  through, 
even  reaching  my  station,  and  blowing  out  the  light. 

There  was  such  anguish  in  the  gush  of  grief  that  accompanied 
this  raving,  that  my  compassion  made  me  overlook  its  folly,  and 
I  drew  off,  half  angry  to  have  listened  at  all,  and  vexed  at  hav- 
ing related  my  ridiculous  nightmare,  since  it  produced  that 
agony  ;  though  why,  was  beyond  my  comprehension. 

I  descended  cautiously  to  the  lower  regions  ;  and  landed  in  the 
back -kitchen,  where  a  gleam  of  fire,  raked  compactly  together, 
enabled  me  to  re-kindle  my  candle. 

Nothing  was  stirring  except  a  brindled  gray  cat,  which  crept 
from  the  ashes  and  saluted  me  with  a  querulous  mew. 

Two  benches,  shaped  in  sections  of  a  circle,  nearly  inclosed 
the  hearth ;  on  one  of  these  T  stretched  myself,  and  Grimalkin 
mounted  the  other.  We  were  both  of  us  nodding  ere  any  one 
invaded  our  retreat,  and  then  it  was  Joseph  shuffling  down  a 
wooden  ladder  that  vanished  in  the  roof,  through  a  trap,  the 
ascent  to  his  garret,  I  suppose. 

He  cast  a  sinister  look  at  the  little  flame  which  I  had  enticed 
to  play  between  the  ribs,  swept  the  cat  from  its  elevation,  and, 
bestowing  himself  in  the  vacancy,  commenced  the  operation  of 
stuffing  a  three-inch  pipe  with  tobacco ;  my  presence  in  his 
sanctum  was  evidently  esteemed  a  piece  of  impudence  too 
shameful  for  remark.  He  silently  applied  the  tube  to  his  lips, 
folded  his  arms,  and  puffed  away. 

I  let  him  enjoy  the  luxury  unannoyed  ;  and,  after  sucking  out 
the  last  wreath,  and  heaving  a  profound  sigh,  he  got  up  and 
departed  as  solemnly  as  he  came. 

A  more  elastic  footstep  entered  next,  and  now  I  opened  my 
mouth  for  a  "  good  morning,"  but  closed  it  again,  the  salutation 
unachieved ;  for  Hareton  Earnshaw  was  performing  his  orisons, 
sotto  voce,  in  a  series  of  curses  directed  against  every  object  be 
touched,  while  he  rummaged  a  corner  for  a  spade  or  shovel  to 
dig  through  the  drifts.  He  glanced  over  the  back  of  the  bench, 
dilating  his  nostrils,  and  thought  as  little  of  exchanging  civilities 
with  me  as  with  my  companion,  the  cat. 


WUTHERING       HEIGHTS.  27 

I  guessed  by  his  preparations  that  egress  was  allowed,  and, 
leaving  my  hard  couch,  made  a  movement  to  follow  him.  He 
noticed  this,  and  thrust  at  an  inner  door  with  the  end  of  his 
spade,  intimating,  by  an  inarticulate  sound,  that  there  was  the 
place  where  I  must  go  if  I  changed  my  locality. 

It  opened  into  the  house,  where  the  females  were  already 
astir,  Zillah  urging  flakes  of  flame  up  the  chimney  with  a  colos- 
sal bellows,  and  Mrs.  Heathcliff,  kneeling  on  the  hearth,  reading 
a  book  by  the  aid  of  the  blaze. 

She  held  her  hand  interposed  between  the  furnace-heat  and 
her  eyes,  and  seemed  absorbed  in  her  occupation,  desisting  from 
it  only  to  chide  the  servant  for  covering  her  with  sparks,  or  to 
push  away  a  dog,  now  and  then,  that  snoozled  its  nose  over  for- 
wardly  into  her  face. 

I  was  surprised  to  see  Heathcliff  there  also.  He  stood  by  the 
lire,  his  back  toward  me,  just  finishing  a  stormy  scene  to  poor 
Zillah,  who  ever  and  anon  interrupted  her  labor  to  pluck  up 
the  corner  of  her  apron,  and  heave  an  indignant  groan. 

"  And  you,  you  worthless "  he  broke  out  as  I  entered, 

turning  to  his  daughter-in-law,  and  employing  an  epithet  as 
harmless  as  duck,  or  sheep,  but  generally  represented  by  a 
dash. 

"  There  you  are  at  your  idle  tricks  again  !  The  rest  of  them 
do  earn  their  bread — you  live  on  my  charity !  Put  your  trash 
away,  and  find  something  to  do.  You  shall  pay  me  for  the 
plague  of  having  you  eternally  in  my  sight — do  you  hear,  dam- 
nable jade]" 

"  I'll  put  my  trash  away,  because  you  can  make  me  if  I  re- 
fuse," answered  the  young  lady,  closing  her  book,  and  throwing 
it  on  a  chair.  "  But  I'll  not  do  any  thing,  though  you  should 
swear  your  tongue  out,  except  what  I  please !" 

Heathcliff  lifted  his  hand,  and  the  speaker  sprang  to  a  safer 
distance,  obviously  acquainted  with  its  weight. 

Having  no  desire  to  be  entertained  by  a  cat  and  dog  combat, 
I  stepped  forward  briskly,  as  if  eager  to  partake  the  warmth  of 
the  hearth,  and  innocent  of  any  knowledge  of  the  interrupted 
dispute.  Each  had  enough  decorum  to  suspend  further  hostili- 
ties ;  Heathcliff  placed  his  fists  out  of  temptation,  in  his  pock- 
ets :  Mrs.  Heathcliff  curled  her  lip,  and  walked  to  a  seat  far  off, 
where  she  kept  her  word  by  playing  the  part  of  a  statue  during 
the  remainder  of  my  stay. 

That  was  not  long.     I  declined  joining  their  breakfast,  and, 


28  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

at  the  first  gleam  of  dawn,  took  an  opportunity  of  escaping  into 
the  free  air,  now  clear,  and  still,  and  cold  as  impalpable  ice. 

My  landlord  hallooed  for  me  to  stop,  ere  I  reached  the  bottom 
of  the  garden,  and  offered  to  accompany  me  across  the  moor. 
It  was  well  he  did,  for  the  whole  hill-back  was  one  billowy, 
white  ocean ;  the  swells  and  falls  not  indicating  corresponding 
rises  and  depressions  in  the  ground — many  pits,  at  least,  were 
filled  to  a  level,  and  entire  ranges  of  mounds,  the  refuse  of  the 
quarries,  blotted  from  the  chart  which  my  yesterday's  walk  left 
pictured  in  my  mind. 

I  had  remarked  on  one  side  of  the  road,  at  intervals  of  six 
or  seven  yards,  a  line  of  upright  stones,  continued  through  the 
whole  length  of  the  barren :  these  were  erected  and  daubed 
with  lime,  on  purpose  to  serve  as  guides  in  the  dark,  and  also 
when  a  fall,  like  the  present,  confounded  the  deep  swamps  on 
either  hand  with  the  firmer  path :  but,  excepting  a  dirty  dot 
pointing  up,  here  and  there,  all  traces  of  their  existence  had 
vanished;  and  my  companion  found  it  necessary  to  warn  me 
frequently  to  steer  to  the  right,  or  left,  when  I  imagined  I  was 
following  correctly  the  windings  of  the  road. 

We  exchanged  little  conversation,  and  he  halted  at  the  en- 
trance of  Thrushcross  park,  saying  I  could  make  no  error  there. 
Our  adieus  were  limited  to  a  hasty  bow,  and  then  I  pushed  for- 
ward, trusting  to  my  own  resources,  for  the  porter's  lodge  is  un- 
tenanted as  yet. 

The  distance  from  the  gate  to  the  Grange  is  two  miles :  I 
believe  I  managed  to  make  it  four,  what  with  losing  myself 
among  the  trees,  and  sinking  up  to  the  neck  in  snow — a  predic- 
ament which  only  those  who  have  experienced  it  can  appreciate. 
At  any  rate,  whatever  were  my  wanderings,  the  clock  chimed 
twelve  as  I  entered  the  house;  and  that  gave  exactly  an  hour 
for  every  mile  of  the  usual  way  from  Wuthering  Heights. 

My  human  fixture  and  her  satellites  rushed  to  welcome  me, 
exclaiming,  tumultuously,  they  had  completely  given  me  up  ; 
every  body  conjectured  that  I  perished  last  night ;  and  they  were 
wondering  how  they  must  set  about  the  search  for  my  remains. 

I  bid  them  be  quiet,  now  that  they  saw  me  returned;  and, 
benumbed  to  my  very  heart,  I  dragged  up-stairs,  whence,  after 
putting  on  dry  clothes,  and  pacing  a  considerable  time  to  and 
fro  to  restore  the  animal  heat,  I  am  adjourned  to  my  study,  feeble 
as  a  kitten — almost  too  much  so  to  enjoy  the  cheerful  fire  and  smo- 
king coffee  which  the  servant  has  prepared  for  my  refreshment. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

What  vain  weathercocks  we  are !  I,  who  had  determined 
to  hold  myself  independent  of  all  social  intercourse,  and  thanked 
my  stars  that  at  length  I  had  lighted  on  a  spot  where  it  was 
next  to  impracticable.  I,  weak  wretch,  after  maintaining  till 
dusk  a  struggle  with  low  spirits  and  solitude,  was  finally  com- 
pelled to  strike  my  colors  ;  and,  under  pretense  of  gaining  infor- 
mation concerning  the  necessities  of  my  establishment,  I  desired 
Mrs.  Dean,  when  she  brought  in  supper,  to  sit  down  while  I 
ate  it,  hoping  sincerely  she  would  prove  a  regular  gossip,  and 
either  rouse  me  to  animation,  or  lull  me  to  sleep  by  her  talk. 

"  You  have  lived  here  a  considerable  time,"  I  commenced  ; 
"  did  you  not  say  sixteen  years  V 

"Eighteen,  sir;  I  came  when  the  mistress  was  married,  to 
wait  on  her;  after  she  died  the  master  retained  me  for  his 
housekeeper." 

"Indeed." 

There  ensued  a  pause.  She  was  not  a  gossip,  I  feared,  un- 
less about  her  own  affairs,  and  these  could  hardly  interest  me. 

However,  having  studied  for  an  interval,  with  a  fist  on  either 
knee,  and  a  cloud  of  meditation  over  her  ruddy  countenance, 
she  ejaculated, 

"Ah,  times  are  greatly  changed  since  then!" 

"  Yes,"  I  remarked,  "  you've  seen  a  good  many  alterations,  I 
suppose  \n 

"  I  have  :  and  troubles  too,"  she  said. 

"  Oh,  I'll  turn  the  talk  on  my  landlord's  family  !"  I  thought 
to  myself.  "  A  good  subject  to  start — and  that  pretty  girl — 
widow — I  should  like  to  know  her  history ;  whether  she  be  a 
native  of  the  country,  or,  as  is  more  probable,  an  exotic  that  the 
surly  indigenae  will  not.  recognize  for  kin." 

With  this  intention  I  asked  Mrs.  Dean  why  Heathcliff  let 
Thrushcross  Grange,  and  preferred  living  in  a  situation  and 
residence  so  much  inferior. 

"  Is  he  not  rich  enough  to  keep  the  estate  in  good  order  V9 
I  inquired. 

"  Rich  sir !"  she  returned.     "  He  has  nobody  knows  what 


SO  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

money,  and  every  year  it  increases.  Yes,  yes,  he's  rich  enough 
to  live  in  a  finer  house  than  this,  but  he's  very  near — close- 
handed  ;  and  if  he  had  meant  to  flit  to  Thrushcross  Grange,  as 
soon  as  he  heard  of  a  good  tenant,  he  could  not  have  borne 
to  miss  the  chance  of  getting  a  few  hundreds  more.  It  is 
strange  people  should  be  so  greedy,  when  they  are  alone  in  the 
world!" 

"  He  had  a  son,  it  seems  j" 

"Yes,  he  had  one — he  is  dead." 

M  And  that  young  lady,  Mrs.  Heathcliff,  is  his  widow !" 

"Yes." 

"  Where  did  she  come  from  originally  ]" 

h  Why,  sir,  she  is  my  late  master's  daughter;  Catherine  Lin- 
ton was  her  maiden  name.  I  nursed  her,  poor  thing  !  I  did 
wish  Mr.  Heathcliff  would  remove  here,  and  then  we  might 
have  been  together  again." 

"  What,  Catherine  Linton  !"  I  exclaimed,  astonished.  But 
a  minute's  reflection  convinced  me  it  was  not  my  ghostly  Cath- 
erine. "  Then,"  I  continued,  "  my  predecessor's  name  was 
Linton  r 

"  It  was." 

"  And  who  is  that  Earnshaw,  Hareton  Earnshaw,  who  lives 
with  Mr.  Heathcliff]  are  they  relations]" 

"  No ;  he  is  the  late  Mrs.  Linton's  nephew." 

"  The  young  lady's  cousin  then  !" 

"  Yes ;  and  her  husband  was  her  cousin  also — one  on  the 
mother's — the  other  on  the  father's  side — Heathcliff  married 
Mi;.  Linton's  sister." 

"1  see  the  house  at  Wuthering  Heights  has  'Earnshaw' 
carved  over  the  front  door.     Are  they  an  old  family  ]" 

"  Very  old,  sir  ;  and  Hareton  is  the  last  of  them,  as  our  Miss 
Cathy  is  of  us — I  mean,  of  the  Lintons.  Have  you  been  to 
Wuthering  Heights  ] — I  beg  pardon  for  asking,  but  I  should 
like  to  hear  how  she  is  !" 

"  Mrs.  Heathcliff?  she  looked  very  well,  and  very  hand- 
some ;  yet,  I  think,  not  very  happy." 

"Oh  dear,  I  don't  wonder!"  And  how  did  you  like  the 
master  j" 

"  A  rough  fellow,  rather,  Mrs.  Dean.  Is  not  that  his  char- 
acter]" 

"  Rough  as  a  saw-edge,  and  hard  as  whinstone  !  The  less 
you  meddle  with  him  the  better." 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  31 

"  He  must  have  had  some  ups  and  downs  in  life  to  make  him 
such  a  churl.     Do  you  know  any  thing  of  his  history  I" 

"  It's  a  cuckoo's,  sir ;  I  know  all  about  it,  except  where  he 
was  born,  and  who  were  his  parents,  and  how  he  got  his  money 
at  first — and  Hareton  has  been  cast  out  like  an  unfledged  dun- 
nock — the  unfortunate  lad  is  the  only  one  in  all  this  parish  that 
does  not  guess  how  he  has  been  cheated!" 

"  Well,  Mrs.  Dean,  it  will  be  a  charitable  deed  to  tell  me 
something  of  my  neighbors. — I  feel  I  shall  not  rest,  if  I  go  to 
bed;  so  be  good  enough  to  sit  and  chat  an  hour." 

"Oh,  certainly,  sir!  I'll  just  fetch  a  little  sewing,  and 
then  I'll  sit  as  long  as  you  please  but  you've  caught  cold,  I 
saw  you  shivering,  and  you  must  have  some  gruel  to  drive  it 
out." 

The  worthy  woman  bustled  off;  and  I  crouched  nearer  the 
fire  :  my  head  felt  hot,  and  the  rest  of  me  chill ;  moreover  I  was 
excited,  almost  to  a  pitch  of  foolishness,  through  my  nerves  and 
brain.  This  caused  me  to  feel,  not  uncomfortable,  but  rather 
fearful,  as  I  am  still,  of  serious  effects  from  the  incidents  of  to- 
day and  yesterday. 

She  returned  presently,  bringing  a  smoking  basin,  and  a 
basket  of  work,  and  having  placed  the  former  on  the  hob, 
drew  in  her  seat,  evidently  pleased  to  find  me  so  companion- 
able. 

Before  I  came  to  live  here, — she  commenced,  waiting  no 
further  invitation  to  her  story, — I  was  almost  always  at  Wu- 
thering  Heights,  because  my  mother  had  nursed  Mr.  Hindley 
Earnshaw,  that  was  Hareton's  father,  and  I  got  used  to  playing 
with  the  children,  I  ran  errands  too,  and  helped  to  make  hay, 
and  hung  about  the  farm  ready  for  any  thing  that  any  body 
would  set  me  to. 

One  fine  summer  morning — it  was  the  beginning  of  harvest 
I  remember — Mr.  Earnshaw,  the  old  master,  came  down  stairs 
dressed  for  a  journey,  and  after  he  had  told  Joseph  what  was  to 
be  done  during  the  day,  he  turned  to  Hindley,  and  Cathy,  and 
me — for  I  sat  eating  my  porridge  with  them,  and  he  said, 
speaking  to  his  son, 

"  Now  my  bonny  man,  I'm  going  to  Liverpool  to-day,  What 
shall  I  bring  you  ]  You  may  choose  what  you  like,  only  let  it 
be  little,  for  I  shall  walk  there  and  back,  sixty  miles  each  way, 
that  is  a  long  spell  !" 

Hindley  named  a  fiddle,  and  then  he  asked  Miss  Cathy ;  she 


32  WITHERING       HEIGHTS. 

was  hardly  six  years  old,  but  she  could  ride  any  horse  in  the 
stable,  and  she  chose  a  whip. 

He  did  not  forget  me,  for  he  had  a  kind  heart,  though  he 
was  rather  severe  sometimes.  He  promised  to  bring  me  a 
pocketful  of  apples  and  pears,  and  then  he  kissed  his  children 
good  bye,  and  set  off. 

It  seemed  a  long  while  lo  us  all,  the  three  days  of  his  ab- 
sence, and  often  did  little  Cathy  ask  when  he  would  be  home ; 
Mrs.  Earnshaw  expected  him  by  supper-time  on  the  third 
evening,  and  she  put  the  meal  hour  off  after  hour ;  there  were 
no  signs  of  his  coming,  however,  and  at  last  the  children  got 
tired  of  running  down  to  the  gate  to  look ;  then  it  grew  dark, 
she  would  have  had  them  to  bed,  but  they  begged  sadly  to  be 
allowed  to  stay  up  ;  and  just  about  eleven  o'clock,  the  door-latch 
was  raised  quietly,  and  in  stept  the  master.  He  threw  himself 
into  a  chair,  laughing  and  groaning,  and  bid  them  all  stand  off, 
for  he  was  nearly  killed,  he  would  not  have  such  another  walk 
for  the  three  kingdoms. 

"And  at  the  end  of  it,  to  be  flighted  to  death!"  he  said, 
opening  his  great  coat,  which  he  held  bundled  up  in  his  arms, 
"  See  here,  wife,  I  was  never  so  beaten  with  any  thing  in  my 
life ;  but  you  must  e'en  take  it  as  a  gift  of  God,  though  it's  as 
dark  almost  as  if  it  came  from  the  devil." 

We  crowded  round,  and  over  Miss  Cathy's  head  I  had  a 
peep  at  a  dirty,  ragged,  black-haired  child,  big  enough  both  to 
walk  and  talk — indeed  its  face  looked  older  than  Catharine's — 
yet,  when  it  was  set  on  its  feet,  it  only  stared  round,  and  re- 
peated over  and  over  again,  some  gibberish  that  nobody  could 
understand.  I  was  frightened,  and  Mrs.  Earnshaw  was  ready 
to  fling  it  out  of  doors ;  she  did  fly  up,  asked  how  he  could 
fashion  to  bring  that  gipsy  brat  into  the  house,  when  they  had 
their  own  bairns  to  feed  and  fend  for  1  "What  he  meant  to  do 
with  it,  and  whether  he  were  mad  1 

The  master  tried  to  explain  the  matter,  but  he  was  really 
half  dead  with  fatigue,  and  all  that  I  could  make  out,  amongst 
her  scolding,  was  a  tale  of  his  seeing  it  starving,  and  houseless, 
and  as  good  as  dumb,  in  the  streets  of  Liverpool,  where  he 
picked  it  up,  and  inquired  for  his  owner.  Not  a  soul  knew  to 
whom  it  belonged,  he  said,  and  his  money  and  time  being  both 
limited,  he  thought  it  better  to  take  it  home  with  him  at  once, 
than  run  into  vain  expenses  there,  because  he  was  determined 
he  would  not  leave  it  as  he  found  it. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  33 

Well,  the  conclusion  was  that  my  mistress  grumbled  herself 
calm ;  and  Mr.  Earnshaw  told  me  to  wash  it,  and  give  it  clean 
things,  and  let  it  sleep  with  the  children. 

Hindley  and  Cathy  contented  themselves  with  looking  and 
listening  till  peace  was  restored,  then  both  began  searching 
their  father's  pockets  for  the  presents  he  had  promised  them. 
The  former  was  a  boy  of  fourteen,  but  when  he  drew  out  what 
had  been  a  fiddle,  crushed  to  morsels  in  the  great  coat,  he 
blubbered  aloud;  and  Cathy,  when  she  learned  the  master  had 
lost  her  whip  in  attending  on  the  stranger,  showed  her  humor 
by  grinning  and  spitting  at  the  stupid  little  thing,  earning  for 
her  pains  a  sound  blow  from  her  father,  to  teach  her  cleaner 
manners. 

They  entirely  refused  to  have  it  in  bed  with  them,  or  even  in 
their  room,  and  I  had  no  more  sense,  so  I  put  it  on  the  landing 
of  the  stairs,  hoping  it  might  be  gone  on  the  morrow.  By 
chance,  or  else  attracted  by  hearing  his  voice,  it  crept  to  Mr. 
Earnshaw's  door,  and  there  he  found  it  on  quitting  his  chamber. 
Inquiries  were  made  as  to  how  it  got  there.  I  was  obliged  to 
confess,  and  in  recompense  for  my  cowardice  and  inhumanity 
was  sent  out  of  the  house. 

This  was  Heathcliff's  first  introduction  to  the  family.  On 
coming  back  a  few  days  afterwards,  for  I  did  not  consider  my 
banishment  perpetual,  I  found  they  had  christened  him  "  Heath- 
cliff."  It  was  the  name  of  a  son  who  died  in  childhood,  and  it 
has  served  him  ever  since  both  for  Christian  and  surname. 

Miss  Cathy  and  he  were  now  very  thick  ;  but  Hindley  hated 
him,  and  to  say  the  truth  I  did  the  same,  and  we  plagued  and 
went  on  with  him  shamefully,  for  I  was'nt  reasonable  enough 
to  feel  my  injustice,  and  the  mistress  never  put  in  a  word  on  his 
behalf  when  she  saw  him  wronged. 

He  seemed  a  sullen,  patient  child  ;  hardened,  perhaps,  to 
ill-treatment ;  he  would  stand  Hindley's  blows  without  winking 
or  shedding  a  tear,  and  my  pinches  moved  him  only  to  draw  in 
a  breath,  and  open  his  eyes  as  if  he  had  hurt  himself  by  acci- 
dent, and  nobody  was  to  blame. 

This  endurance  made  old  Earnshaw  furious  when  he  dis- 
covered his  son  persecuting  the  poor  fatherless  child,  as  he 
called  him.  He  took  to  Heathcliff  strangely,  believing  all  he 
said  (for  that  matter,  he  said  precious  little,  and  generally  the 
truth),  and  petting  him  up  far  above  Cathy,  who  was  too  mis- 
chievous and  wayward  for  a  favorite. 


34  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

So,  from  the  very  beginning,  he  bred  bad  feeling  in  the  house  ; 
and  at  Mrs.  Earnshaw's  death,  which  happened  in  less  than 
two  years  after,  the  young  master  had  learned  to  regard  his 
father  as  an  oppressor  rather  than  a  friend,  and  Heathcliff  as  a 
usurper  of  his  parent's  affections,  and  his  privileges,  and  he 
grew  bitter  with  brooding  over  these  injuries. 

1  sympathized  awhile,  but  when  the  children  fell  ill  of  the 
measles,  and  I  had  to  tend  them,  and  take  on  me  the  cares  of 
a  woman  at  once,  I  changed  my  ideas.  Heathcliff  was  dan- 
gerously sick,  and  while  he  lay  at  the  worst  he  would  have  me 
constantly  by  his  pillow ;  I  suppose  he  felt  I  did  a  good  deal 
for  him,  and  he  had'nt  wit  enough  to  guess  that  I  was  com- 
pelled to  do  it.  However,  I  will  say  this,  he  was  the  quietest 
child  that  ever  nurse  watched  over.  The  difference  between 
him  and  the  others  forced  me  to  be  less  partial ;  Cathy  and  her 
brother  harassed  me  terribly,  he  was  as  uncomplaining  as  a  lamb  ; 
though  hardness,  not  gentleness,  made  him  give  little  trouble. 

He  got  through,  and  the  doctor  affirmed  it  was  in  a  great 
measure  owing  to  me,  and  praised  me  for  my  care.  I  was  vain 
of  his  commendations,  and  softened  toward  the  being  by  whose 
means  I  earned  them,  and  thus  Hindley  lost  his  last  ally ;  still  I 
could'nt  dote  on  Heathcliff,  and  I  wondered  often  what  my 
master  saw  to  admire  so  much  in  the  sullen  boy,  who  never,  to 
my  recollection,  repaid  his  indulgence  by  any  sign  of  gratitude. 
He  was  not  insolent  to  his  benefactor,  he  was  simply  insensible, 
though  knowing  perfectly  the  hold  he  had  on  his  heart,  and 
conscious  he  had  only  to  speak,  and  all  the  house  would  be 
obliged  to  bend  to  his  wishes. 

As  an  instance,  I  remember  Mr.  Earnshaw  once  bought  a 
couple  of  colts  at  the  parish  fair,  and  gave  the  lads  each  one. 
Heathcliff  took  the  handsomest,  but  it  soon  fell  lame,  and  when 
he  discovered  it  he  said  to  Hindley, 

"  You  must  exchange  horses  with  me ;  I  don't  like  mine, 
and,  if  you  won't,  I  shall  tell  your  father  of  the  three  thrashings 
you've  given  me  this  week,  and  show  him  my  arm,  which  is 
black  to  the  shoulder." 

Hindley  put  out  his  tongue,  and  cuffed  him  over  the  ears. 

"  You  had  better  do  it  at  once,"  he  persisted,  escaping  to  the 
porch  (they  were  in  the  stable),  "  you  will  have  to,  and  if  I 
Bpeak  of  these  blows  you'll  get  them  again  with  interest." 

"Off,  dog!"  cried  Hindley,  threatening  him  with  an  iron 
weight,  used  for  weighing  potatoes  and  hay. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  35 


"  Throw  it,"  he  replied,  standing  still,  "  and  then  I'll  tell  how 
you  boasted  that  you  would  turn  me  out  of  doors  as  soon  as  he 
died,  and  see  whether  he  will  not  tarn  you  out  directly." 

Hindley  threw  it  hitting  him  on  the  breast  and  down  he  fell, 
but  staggered  up  immediately,  breathless  and  white,  and  had 
not  I  prevented  it  he  would  have  gone  just  so  to  the  master, 
and  got  full  revenge  by  letting  his  condition  plead  for  him,  in- 
timating who  had  caused  it. 

"Take  my  colt,  gipsy,  then!"  said  young  Earnshaw,  "and 
I  pray  that  he  may  break  your  neck,  take  him,  and  be  damned, 
you  beggarly  interloper !  and  wheedle  my  father  out  of  all  he 
has,  only  afterward  show  him  what  you  are,  imp  of  Satan — and 
take  that,  I  hope  he'll  kick  out  your  brains !" 

Heathcliff  had  gone  to  loose  the  beast,  and  shift  it  to  his  own 
stall — he  was  passing  behind  it,  when  Hindley  finished  his 
speech  by  knocking  him  under  its  feet,  and  without  stopping  to 
examine  whether  his  hopes  were  fulfilled,  ran  away  as  fast  as 
he  could. 

I  was  surprized  to  witness  how  coolly  the  child  gathered 
himself  up,  and  went  on  with  his  intention,  exchanging  saddles 
and  all ;  and  then  sitting  down  on  a  bundle  of  hay  to  overcome 
the  qualm  which  the  violent  blow  occasioned,  before  he  entered 
the  house. 

I  persuaded  him  easily  to  let  me  lay  the  blame  of  his  bruises 
on  the  horse ;  he  minded  little  what  tale  was  told,  since  he  had 
what  he  wanted.  He  complained  so  seldom,  indeed,  of  such 
stirs  as  these,  that  I  really  thought  him  not  vindictive. — I  was 
deceived,  completely,  as  you  will  hear. 


CHAPTER  V. 

In  the  course  of  time  Mr.  Earnshaw  began  to  fail.  He  had 
been  active  and  healthy,  yet  his  strength  left  him  suddenly ;  and 
when  he  was  confined  to  the  chimney-corner  he  grew  grievously 
irritable.  A  nothing  vexed  him,  and  suspected  slights  of  his 
authority  nearly  threw  him  into  fits. 

This  was  especially  to  be  remarked  if  any  one  attempted  to 
impose  upon,  or  domineer  over  his  favorite ;  he  was  painfully 
jealous  lest  a  word  should  be  spoken  amiss  to  him,  seeming  to 
have  got  into  his  head  the  notion  that,  because  he  liked  Heath- 
cliff,  all  hated,  and  longed  to  do  him  an  ill-turn. 

It  was  a  disadvantage  to  the  lad,  for  the  kinder  among  us  did 
not  wish  to  fret  the  master,  so  we  humored  his  partiality ;  and 
that  humoring  was  rich  nourishment  to  the  child's  pride  and 
black  temper.  Still  it  became  in  a  manner  necessary ;  twice, 
or  thrice,  Hindley's  manifestations  of  scorn,  while  his  father  was 
near,  roused  the  old  man  to  a  fury.  He  seized  his  stick  to  strike 
him,  and  shook  with  rage  that  he  could  not  do  it. 

At  last  our  curate  (we  had  a  curate  then,  who  made  the  living 
answer  by  teaching  the  little  Lintons  and  Earnshaws,  and  farm- 
ing his  bit  of  land  himself),  he  advised  that  the  young  man  should 
be  sent  to  college,  and  Mr.  Earnshaw  agreed,  though  with  a 
heavy  spirit,  for  he  said — 

"  Hindley  was  naught,  and  would  never  thrive  as  where  he 
wandered." 

I  hoped  heartily  we  should  have  peace  now.  It  hurt  me  to 
think  the  master  should  be  made  uncomfortable  by  his  own  good 
deed.  I  fancied  the  discontent  of  age  and  disease  arose  from 
his  family  disagreements,  as  he  would  have  it  that  it  did — really 
you  know,  sir,  it  was  in  his  sinking  frame. 

We  might  have  got  on  tolerably,  notwithstanding,  but  for  two 
people — Miss  Cathy,  and  Joseph  the  servant ;  you  saw  him,  I 
dare  say,  up  yonder.  He  was,  and  is  yet,  most  likely,  the  weari- 
somest  self-righteous  Pharisee  that  ever  ransacked  a  Bible  to 
rake  the  promises  to  himself,  and  fling  the  curses  on  his  neigh- 
bors. By  his  knack  of  sermonizing  and  pious  discoursing, 
he  contrived  to  make \  great  impression  on  Mr.  Earnshaw; 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  37 

and  the  more  feeble  the  master  became,  the  more  influence  he 
gained. 

He  was  relentless  in  worrying  him  about  his  soul's  concerns, 
and  about  ruling  his  children  rigidly.  He  encouraged  him  to 
regard  Hindley  as  a  reprobate ;  and,  night  after  night,  he  regu 
larly  grumbled  out  a  long  string  of  tales  against  Heathcliff  and 
Catherine;  always  minding  to  flatter  Earnshaw's  weakness  by 
heaping  the  heaviest  blame  on  the  last. 

Certainly,  she  had  ways  with  her  such  as  I  never  saw  a  child 
take  up  before ;  and  she  put  all  of  us  past  our  patience  fifty 
times  and  oftener  in  a  day  :  from  the  hour  she  came  down  stairs, 
till  the  hour  she  went  to  bed,  we  had  not  a  minute's  security  that 
she  would'nt  be  in  mischief.  Her  spirits  were  always  at  high- 
water  mark,  her  tongue  always  going — singing,  laughing,  and 
plaguing  every  body  who  would  not  do  the  same.  A  wild, 
wicked  slip  she  was — but  she  had  the  bonniest  eye,  and  sweetest 
smile,  and  lightest  foot  in  the  parish  ;  and,  after  all,  I  believe  she 
meant  no  harm ;  for,  when  once  she  made  you  cry  in  good  earn- 
est, it  seldom  happened  that  she  would  not  keep  you  company ; 
and  oblige  you  to  be  quiet  that  you  might  comfort  her. 

She  was  much  too  fond  of  Heathcliff.  The  greatest  pun- 
ishment we  could  invent  for  her  was  to  keep  her  separate 
from  him ;  yet,  she  got  chided  more  than  any  of  us  on  his  ac- 
count. 

In  play,  she  liked  exceedingly  to  act  the  little  mistress ;  using 
her  hands  freely,  and  commanding  her  companions :  she  did  so 
to  me,  but  I  would  not  bear  slapping  and  ordering ;  and  so  I  let 
her  know. 

Now  Mr.  Earnshaw  did  not  understand  jokes  from  his  chil- 
dren :  he  had  always  been  strict  and  grave  with  them ;  and 
Catharine,  on  her  part,  had  no  idea  why  her  father  should  be 
crosser  and  less  patient  in  his  ailing  condition,  than  he  was  in 
his  prime. 

His  peevish  reproofs  wakened  in  her  a  naughty  delight  to 
provoke  him ;  she  was  never  so  happy  as  when  we  were  all 
scolding  her  at  once,  and  she  defying  us  with  her  bold,  saucy 
look,  and  her  ready  words ;  turning  Joseph's  religious  curses 
into  ridicule,  baiting  me,  and  doing  just  what  her  father  hated 
most ;  showing  how  her  pretended  insolence,  which  he  thought 
real,  had  more  power  over  Heathcliff  than  his  kindness ;  how 
the  boy  would  do  her  bidding  in  any  thing,  and  his  only  when 
it  suited  his  own  inclination. 


38  WUTHEEING      HEIGHTS, 

After  behaving  as  badly  as  possible  all  day,  she  sometimes 
came  fondling  to  make  it  up  at  night. 

"  Nay,  Cathy,"  the  old  man  would  say,  "  I  can  not  love  thee  ; 
thou'rt  worse  than  thy  brother.  Go,  say  thy  prayers,  child,  and 
ask  God's  pardon.  I  doubt  thy  mother  and  I  must  rue  that  we 
ever  reared  thee !" 

That  made  her  cry,  at  first ;  and  then,  being  repulsed  con- 
tinually hardened  her,  and  she  laughed  if  I  told  her  to  say  she 
was  sorry  for  her  faults,  and  beg  to  be  forgiven. 

But  the  hour  came  at  last,  that  ended  Mr.  Earnshaw's  trou- 
bles on  earth.  He  died  quietly  in  his  chair  one  October  evening, 
seated  by  the  fire-side. 

A  high  wind  blustered  round  the  house,  and  roared  in  the 
chimney :  it  sounded  wild  and  stormy,  yet  it  was  not  cold,  and 
we  were  all  together — I,  a  little  removed  from  the  hearth,  busy 
at  my  knitting,  and  Joseph  reading  his  Bible  near  the  table  (for 
the  servants  generally  sat  in  the  house  then,  after  their  work 
was  done).  Miss  Cathy  had  been  sick,  and  that  made  her  still ; 
she  leaned  against  her  father's  knee,  and  Heathcliff  was  lying 
on  the  floor  with  his  head  in  her  lap. 

I  remember  the  master,  before  he  fell  into  a  doze,  stroking 
her  bonny  hair — it  pleased  him  rarely  to  see  her  gentle — and 
saying— 

"  Why  canst  thou  not  always  be  a  good  lass,  Cathy  V 

And  she  turned  her  face  up  to  his,  and  laughed,  and  answered, 

"  Why  can  not  you  always  be  a  good  man,  father]" 

But  as  soon  as  she  saw  him  vexed  again,  she  kissed  his  hand, 
and  said  she  would  sing  him  to  sleep.  She  began  singing  very 
low,  till  his  fingers  dropped  from  hers,  and  his  head  sank  on  his 
breast.  Then  I  told  her  to  hush,  and  not  stir,  for  fear  she  should 
wake  him.  We  all  kept  as  mute  as  mice  a  full  half-hour,  and 
should  have  done  longer,  only  Joseph,  having  finished  his  chap- 
ter, got  up  and  said  that  he  must  rouse  the  master  for  prayers 
and  bed.  He  stepped  forward,  and  called  him  by  name,  and 
touched  his  shoulder,  but  he  would  not  move — so  he  took  the 
candle  and  looked  at  him. 

I  thought  there  was  something  wrong  as  he  set  down  the 
light ;  and  seizing  the  children  each  by  an  arm,  whispered  them 
to  "  frame  up-stairs,  and  make  little  din — they  might  pray  alone 
that  evening — he  had  summut  to  do." 

"I  shall  bid  father  good-night  first,"  said  Catherine,  putting 
her  arms  round  his  neck,  before  we  .could  hinder  her. 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  39 

The  poor  thing  discovered  her  loss  directly — she  screamed 
out — 

"Oh,  he's  dead,  Heathcliff!  he's  dead!" 

And  they  both  set  up  a  heart-breaking  cry. 

I  joined  my  wail  to  theirs,  loud  and  bitter ;  but  Joseph  asked 
what  we  could  be  thinking  of,  to  roar  in  that  way  over  a  saint  in 
Heaven. 

He  told  me  to  put  on  my  cloak  and  run  to  Gimmerton  for  the 
doctor  and  the  parson.  I  could  not  guess  the  use  that  either 
would  be  of,  then.  Howevever,  I  went,  through  wind  and  rain, 
and  brought  one,  the  doctor,  back  with  me ;  the  other  said  he 
would  come  in  the  morning. 

Leaving  Joseph  to  explain  matters,  I  ran  to  the  children's 
room:  their  door  was  ajar;  I  saw  they  had  never  laid  down, 
though  it  was  past  midnight ;  but  they  were  calmer,  and  did 
not  need  me  to  console  them.  The  little  souls  were  comforting 
each  other  with  better  thoughts  than  I  could  have  hit  on  ;  no 
parson  in  the  world  ever  pictured  Heaven  so  beautifully  as  they 
did,  in  their  innocent  talk ;  and,  while  I  sobbed  and  listened, 
I  could  not  help  wishing  we  were  all  there  safe  together. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Mr.  Hindley  came  home  to  the  funeral ;  and — a  thing  that 
amazed  us,  and  set  the  neighbors  gossiping  right  and  left — he 
brought  a  wife  with  him. 

What  she  was,  and  where  she  was  born,  he  never  inform- 
ed us ;  probably  she  had  neither  money  nor  name  to  recom- 
mend her,  or  he  would  scarcely  have  kept  the  union  from  his 
father. 

She  was  not  one  that  would  have  disturbed  the  house  much 
on  her  own  account.  Every  object  she  saw,  the  moment  she 
crossed  the  threshold,  appeared  to  delight  her ;  and  every  cir- 
cumstance that  took  place  about  her,  except  the  preparing  for 
the  burial,  and  the  presence  of  the  mourners. 

I  thought  she  was  half  silly,  from  her  behavior  while  that 
went  on  ;  she  ran  into  her  chamber,  and  made  me  come  with 
her,  though  I  should  have  been  dressing  the  children  ;  and  there 


40  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

she  sat  shivering  and  clasping  her  hands,  and  asking  repeat- 
edly— 

"  Are  they  gone  yet  V* 

Then  she  began  describing  with  hysterical  emotion  the  effect 
it  produced  on  her  to  see  black,  and  started,  and  trembled,  and 
at  last  fell  a  weeping ;  and  when  I  asked  what  was  the  matter, 
answered  she  didn't  know,  but  she  felt  so  afraid  of  dying  ! 

I  imagined  her  as  little  likely  to  die  as  myself.  She  was 
rather  thin,  but  young,  and  fresh-complexioned,  and  her  eyes 
sparkled  as  bright  as  diamonds.  I  did  remark,  to  be  sure,  that 
mounting  the  stairs  made  her  breathe  very  quick,  that  the  least 
sudden  noise  set  her  all  in  a  quiver,  and  that  she  coughed  trou- 
blesomely  sometimes  ;  but  I  knew  nothing  of  what  these  symp- 
toms portended,  and  had  no  impulse  to  sympathize  with  her. 
We  don't  in  general  take  to  foreigners  here,  Mr.  Lockwood, 
unless  they  take  to  us  first. 

Young  Earnshaw  was  altered  considerably  in  the  three  years 
o£-his  absence.  He  had  grown  sparer,  and  lost  his  color,  and 
spoke  and  dressed  quite  differently  ;  and,  on  the  very  day  of 
his  return,  he  told  Joseph  and  me  we  must  thenceforth  quarter 
ourselves  in  the  back-kitchen,  and  leave  the  house  for  him. 
Indeed,  he  would  have  carpeted  and  papered  a  small  spare 
room  for  a  parlor ;  but  his  wife  expressed  such  pleasure  at  the 
white  floor  and  huge  glowing  fireplace,  at  the  pewter  dishes 
and  delf-case,  and  dog-kennel,  and  the  wide  space  there  was  to 
move  about  in,  where  they  usually  sat,  that  he  thought  it  un- 
necessary to  her  comfort,  and  so  dropped  the  intention. 

She  expressed  pleasure,  too,  at  finding  a  sister  among  her 
new  acquaintance,  and  she  prattled  to  Catherine,  and  kissed 
her,  and  ran  about  with  her,  and  gave  her  quantities  of  pres- 
ents, at  the  beginning.  Her  affection  tired  very  soon,  however, 
and  when  she  grew  peevish,  Hindley  became  tyrannical.  A 
few  words  from  her,  evincing  a  dislike  to  Heathcliff,  were 
enough  to  rouse  in  him  all  his  old  hatred  of  the  boy.  He 
drove  him  from  their  company  to  the  servants,  deprived  him  of 
the  instructions  of  the  curate,  and  insisted  that  he  should  labor 
out  of  doors  instead,  compelling  him  to  do  so,  as  hard  as  any 
other  lad  on  the  farm. 

He  bore  his  degradation  pretty  well  at  first,  because  Cathy 
taught  him  what  she  learned,  and  worked  or  played  with  him 
in  the  fields.  They  both  promised  fair  to  grow  up  as  rude  as 
savages,  the  young  master  being  entirely  negligent  how  they 


WUT  BERING     HEIGHTS.  41 

behaved,  and  what  they  did,  so  they  kept  clear  of  him.  He 
would  not  even  have  seen  after  their  going  to  church  on  Sun- 
days, only  Joseph  and  the  curate  reprimanded  his  carelessness 
when  they  absented  themselves,  and  that  reminded  him  to 
order  HeathclifF  a  flogging,  and  Catherine  a  fast  from  dinner  or 
supper. 

But  it  was  one  of  their  chief  amusements  to  run  away  to  the 
moors  in  the  morning  and  remain  there  all  day,  and  the  after- 
punishment  grew  a  mere  thing  to  laugh  at.  The  curate  might 
set  as  many  chapters  as  he  pleased  for  Catherine  to  get  by 
heart,  and  Joseph  might  thrash  Heathcliff  till  his  arm  ached  ; 
they  forgot  every  thing  the  minute  they  were  together  again,  at 
least  the  minute  they  had  contrived  some  naughty  plan  of  re- 
venge ;  and  many  a  time  I've  cried  to  myself  to  watch  them 
growing  more  reckless  daily,  and  I  not  daring  to  speak  a  sylla- 
ble, for  fear  of  losing  the  small  power  I  still  retained  over  the 
unfriended  creatures. 

One  Sunday  evening,  it  chanced  that  they  were  banished 
from  the  sitting-room,  for  making  a  noise,  or  a  light  offense  of 
the  kind,  and  when  I  went  to  call  them  to  supper,  I  could  dis- 
cover them  nowhere. 

We  searched  the  house,  above  and  below,  and  the  yard,  and 
stables — they  were  invisible  ;  and  at  last,  Hindley,  in  a  passion, 
told  us  to  bolt  the  doors,  and  swore  nobody  should  let  them  in 
that  night. 

The  household  went  to  bed ;  and  I,  too  anxious  to  lie  down, 
opened  my  lattice,  and  put  my  head  out  to  hearken,  though  it 
rained,  determined  to  admit  them,  in  spite  of  the  prohibition, 
should  they  return. 

In  a  while,  I  distinguished  steps  coming  up  the  road,  and  the 
light  of  a  lantern  glimmered  through  the  gate. 

I  threw  a  shawl  over  my  head,  and  ran  to  prevent  them  from 
waking  Mr.  Earnshaw  by  knocking.  There  was  Heathcliff  by 
himself;  it  gave  me  a  start  to  see  him  alone. 

"  Where  is  Miss  Catherine  ?"  I  cried,  hurriedly.  "  No  acci- 
dent, I  hope  %" 

"  At  Thrushcross  Grange,"  he  answered ;  "  and  I  would 
have  been  there  too,  but  they  had  not  the  manners  to  ask  me 
to  stay." 

"  Well,  you  will  catch  it !"  I  said;  "you'll  never  be  content 
till  you're  sent  about  your  business.  What  in  the  wo  Id  led 
you  wandering  to  Thrushcross  Grange]" 


42  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

"  Let  me  get  off  my  wet  clothes,  arid  I'll  tell  you  all  about 
it,  Nelly,"  he  replied. 

I  bid  him  beware  of  rousing  the  master,  and  while  he  un^ 
dressed,  and  I  waited  to  put  out  the  candle,  he  continued — 

"  Cathy  and  I  escaped  from  the  wash-house  to  have  a  ramble 
at  liberty,  and,  getting  a  glimpse  of  the  Grange  lights,  we 
thought  we  would  just  go  and  see  whether  the  Lintons  passed 
their  Sunday  evenings  standing  shivering  in  corners,  while  their 
father  and  mother  sat  eating  and  drinking,  and  singing  and 
laughing,  and  burning  their  eyes  out  before  the  fire.  Do  you 
think  they  do  ]  Or  reading  sermons,  and  being  catechised  by 
their  man-servant,  and  set  to  learn  a  column  of  Scripture  names, 
if  they  don't  answer  properly  ]" 

"  Probably  not,"  I  responded.  "  They  are  good  children,  no 
doubt,  and  don't  deserve  the  treatment  you  receive  for  your  bad 
conduct." 

"  Don't  you  cant,  Nelly,"  he  said,  "  nonsense  !  We  ran  from 
the  top  of  the  Heights  to  the  park,  without  stopping- — Catherine 
completely  beaten  in  the  race,  because  she  was  barefoot.  You'll 
have  to  seek  for  her  shoes  in  the  bog  to-morrow.  We  crept 
through  a  broken  hedge,  groped  our  way  up  the  path,  and 
planted  ourselves  on  a  flower-pot  under  the  drawing-room  win- 
dow. The  light  came  from  thence  ;  they  had  not  put  up  the 
shutters,  and  the  curtains  were  only  half  closed.  Both  of  us 
were  able  to  look  in,  by  standing  on  the  basement  and  clinging 
to  the  ledge,  and  we  saw — ah  !  it  was  beautiful — a  splendid 
place  carpeted  with  crimson,  and  crimson-covered  chairs  and 
tables,  and  a  pure  white  ceiling  bordered  by  gold,  a  shower  of 
glass-drops  hanging  in  silver  chains  from  the  center,  and  shim* 
mering  with  little  soft  tapers.  Old  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linton  were 
not  there.  Edgar  and  his  sister  had  it  entirely  to  themselves  ; 
shouldn't  they  have  been  happy1?  We  should  have  thought 
ourselves  in  heaven  !  And  now,  guess  what  your  good  children 
were  doing  1  Isabella — I  believe  she  is  eleven,  a  year  younger 
than  Cathy — lay  screaming  at  the  farther  end  of  the  room, 
shrieking  as  if  witches  were  running  red-hot  needles  into  her. 
Edgar  stood  on  the  hearth  weeping  silently,  and  in  the  middle 
of  the  table  sat  a  little  dog  shaking  its  paw  and  yelping,  which, 
from  their  mutual  accusations,  we  understood  they  had  nearly 
pulled  in  two  between  them.  The  idiots  !  That  was  their 
pleasure  !  to  quarrel  who  should  hold  a  heap  of  warm  hair ; 
and  each  begin  to  cry  because  both,  after  struggling  to  get  it, 


WUTHERING      HEIGHT?.  43 

refused  to  take  it.  We  laughed  outright  at  the  petted  things, 
we  did  despise  them  !  When  would  you  catch  me  wishing  to 
have  what  Catherine  wanted  1  or  find  us  by  ourselves,  seeking 
entertainment  in  yelling,  and  sobbing,  and  rolling  on  the  ground, 
divided  by  the  whole  room  1  I'd  not  exchange,  for  a  thousand 
lives,  my  condition  here,  for  Edgar  Linton's  at  Thrushcross 
Grange — not  if  I  might  have  the  privilege  of  flinging  Joseph 
off  the  highest  gable,  and  painting  the  house-front  with  Hind- 
ley's  blood !" 

"Hush,  hush  !"  I  interrupted.  "  Still  you  have  not  told  me, 
Heathcliff,  how  Catherine  is  left  behind  f' 

"  I  told  you  we  laughed,"  he  answered.  The  Lintons  heard 
us;  and  with  one  accord  they  shot  like  arrows  to  the  door. 
There  was  silence,  and  then  a  cry,  'Oh,  mamma, mamma!  Oh, 
papa !  Oh,  mamma,  come  here.  Oh,  papa,  Oh  !'  They  really 
did  howl  out  something  in  that  way.  We  made  frightful  noises 
to  terrify  them  still  more,  and  then  we  dropped  off  the  ledge, 
because  somebody  was  drawing  the  bars,  and  we  felt  we  had 
better  flee.  I  had  Cathy  by  the  hand,  and  was  urging  her  on, 
when  all  at  once  she  fell  down. 

"  '  Run,  Heathcliff,  run  !  she  whispered ;  <  they  have  let  the 
bull-dog  loose,  and  he  holds  me  !' 

"The  devil  had  seized  her  ancle,  Nelly;  I  heard  his  abom- 
inable snorting.  She  did  not  yell  out — no !  She  would  have 
scorned  to  do  it,  if  she  had  been  spitted  on  the  horns  of  a 
mad  cow.  I  did,  though ;  I  vociferated  curses  enough  to  anni- 
hilate any  fiend  in  Christendom ;  and  I  got  a  stone  and  thrust  it 
between  his  jaws,  and  tried  with  all  my  might  to  cram  it  down 
his  throat.  A  beast  of  a  servant  came  up  with  a  lantern,  at  last, 
shouting — 

"  '  Keep  fast,  Skulker,  keep  fast !' 

"  He  changed  his  note,  however,  when  he  saw  Skulker's 
game.  The  dog  was  throttled  off — his  huge,  purple  tongue 
hanging  half  a  foot  out  of  his  mouth,  and  his  pendent  lips  stream- 
ing with  bloody  slaver. 

"  The  man  took  Cathy  up — she  was  sick ;  not  from  fear,  I'm 
certain,  but  from  pain.  He  carried  her  in ;  I  followed,  grum- 
bling execrations  and  vengeance. 

"  '  What  prey,  Robert  1  hallooed  Linton  from  the  entrance.' 

"  '  Skulker  has  caught  a  little  girl,  sir,'  he  replied,  and  there's 
a  lad  here,'  he  added,  making  a  clutch  at  me,  'who  looks  an 
out-and-outer!    Very  like,  the  robbers  were  for  putting  them 


44  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

through  the  window,  to  open  the  doors  to  the  gang,  after  all 
were  asleep,  that  they  might  murder  us  at  their  ease.  Hold 
your  tongue,  you  foul-mouthed  thief,  you !  you  shall  go  to  the 
gallows  for  this.     Mr.  Linton,  sir,  don't  lay  by  your  gun  !' 

"  '  No,  no,  Robert !'  said  the  old  fool.  '  The  rascals  knew  that 
yesterday  was  my  rent  day;  they  thought  to  have  me  cleverly. 
Come  in ;  I'll  furnish  them  a  reception.  There,  John,  fasten  the 
chain.  Give  Skulker  some  water,  Jenny.  To  beard  a  magis 
trate  in  his  strong-hold,  and  on  the  Sabbath,  too!  where  will 
their  insolence  stop1?  Oh,  my  dear  Mary,  look  here!  Don't 
be  afraid,  it  is  but  a  boy — yet,  the  villain  scowls  so  plainly  in 
his  face,  would  it  not  be  a  kindness  to  the  country  to  hang  him 
at  once,  before  he  shows  his  nature  in  acts,  as  well  as  features  V 

"  He  pulled  me  under  the  chandelier,  and  Mrs.  Linton  placed 
her  spectacles  on  her  nose  and  raised  her  hands  in  horror.  The 
cowardly  children  crept  nearer,  also,  Isabella  lisping — 

"  '  Frightful  thing !  Put  him  in  the  cellar,  papa.  He's  ex- 
actly like  the  son  of  the  fortune-teller,  that  stole  my  tame  pheasant. 
Isn't  he,  Edgar]' 

"  '  While  they  examined  me,  Cathy  came  round ;  she  heard 
the  last  speech,  and  laughed.  Edgar  Linton,  after  an  inquisitive 
stare,  collected  sufficient  wit  to  recognize  her.  They  see  us  at 
church,  you  know,  though  we  seldom  meet  them  elsewhere.' 

"  '  That's  Miss  Earnshaw !'  he  whispered  to  his  mother,  '  and 
look  how  Skulker  has  bitten  her — how  her  foot  bleeds  !' 

"  '  Miss  Earnshaw  %  Nonsense  !'  cried  the  dame,  '  Miss  Earn- 
shaw scouring  the  country  with  a  gipsy !  And  yet,  my  dear, 
the  child  is  in  mourning — surely  it  is — and  she  may  be  lamed 
for  life!' 

"  '  "What  culpable  carelessness  in  her  brother!'  exclaimed  Mr. 
Linton,  turning  from  me  to  Catherine.  '  I've  understood  from 
Shielders  (that  was  the  curate,  sir)  that  he  lets  her  grow  up  in 
absolute  heathenism.  But  who  is  this  ?  Where  did  she  pick 
up  this  companion  ]  Oho  !  I  declare  he  is  that  strange  acqui- 
sition my  late  neighbor  made  in  his  journey  to  Liverpool — a 
little  Lascar,  or  an  American  or  Spanish  castaway.' 

"  '  A  wicked  boy,  at  all  events,'  remarked  the  old  lady,  '  and 
quite  unfit  for  a  decent  house !  Did  you  notice  his  language, 
Linton  %     I'm  shocked  that  my  children  should  have  heard  it.' 

"  I  recommenced  cursing — don't  be  angry,  Nelly — and  so 
Robert  was  ordered  to  take  me  off.  I  refused  to  go  without 
Cathy ;  he  dragged  me  into  the  garden,  pushed  the  lantern  into 


WUTHERING       HEIGHTS.  45 

my  hand,  assured  me  that  Mr.  Earnshaw  should  be  informed 
of  my  behavior,  and  biding  me  march  directly,  secured  the  door 
again. 

11  The  curtains  were  still  looped  up  at  one  corner ;  and  I  re- 
sumed my  station  as  spy,  because,  if  Catherine  had  wished  to 
return,  I  intended  shattering  their  great  glass  panes  to  a  million 
fragments,  unless  they  let  her  out. 

"  She  sat  on  the  sofa  quietly,  Mrs.  Linton  took  off  the  gray 
cloak  of  the  dairy  maid  which  we  had  borrowed  for  our  excur- 
sion— shaking  her  head,  and  expostulating  with  her,  I  suppose ; 
she  was  a  young  lady,  and  they  made  a  distinction  between  her 
treatment  and  mine.  Then  the  woman  servant  brought  a  basin 
of  warm  water,  and  washed  her  feet,  and  Mr.  Linton  mixed  a 
tumbler  of  negus,  and  Isabella  emptied  a  plateful  of  cakes  into 
her  lap,  and  Edgar  stood  gaping  at  a  distance.  Afterward, 
they  dried  and  combed  her  beautiful  hair,  and  gave  her  a  pair 
of  enormous  slippers,  and  wheeled  her  to  the  fire ;  and  I  left 
her,  as  merry  as  she  could  be,  dividing  her  food  between  the 
little  dog  and  Skulker,  whose  nose  she  pinched  as  he  ate,  and 
kindling  a  spark  of  spirit  in  the  vacant  blue  eyes  of  the  Lintons 
— a  dim  reflection  from  her  own  enchanting  face — I  saw  they 
were  full  of  stupid  admiration  ;  she  is  so  immeasurably  superior 
to  them — to  every  body  on  earth ;  is  she  not,  Nelly  V 

"  There  will  more  come  of  this  business  than  you  reckon  on," 
I  answered,  covering  him  up  and  extinguishing  the  light;  "You 
are  incurable  Heathcliff,  and  Mr.  Hindley  will  have  to  proceed 
to  extremities,  see  if  he  won't." 

My  words  came  truer  than  I  desired.  The  luckless  adventure 
made  Earnshaw  furious  ;  and  then  Mr.  Linton,  to  mend  matters, 
paid  us  a  visit  himself  on  the  morrow,  and  read  the  young  mas- 
ter such  a  lecture  on  the  road  he  guided  his  family,  that  he  was 
stirred  to  look  about  him  in  earnest. 

Heathcliff  received  no  flogging,  but  he  was  told  that  the  first 
word  he  he  spoke  to  Miss  Catherine  should  ensure  a  dismissal; 
and  Mrs.  Earnshaw  undertook  to  keep  her  sister-in-law  in  due 
restraint  when  she  returned  home,  employing  art,  not  force — 
with  force  she  would  have  found  it  impossible. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Cathy  stayed  at  Thrushcross  Grange  five  weeks,  till  Christ- 
mas. By  that  time  her  ankle  was  thoroughly  cured,  and  her 
manners  much  improved.  The  mistress  visited  her  often,  in 
the  interval,  and  commenced  her  plan  of  reform,  by  trying  to 
raise  her  self-respect  with  fine  clothes,  and  flattery,  which  she 
took  readily ;  so  that,  instead  of  a  wild,  hatless  little  savage 
jumping  into  the  house,  and  rushing  t,o  squeeze  us  all  breath- 
less, there  lighted  from  a  handsome  black  pony  a  very  dignified 
person  with  brown  ringlets  falling  from  the  cover  of  a  feathered 
beaver,  and  a  long  cloth  habit  which  she  was  obliged  to  hold 
up  with  both  hands  that  she  might  sail  in. 

Hindley  lifted  her  from  her  horse,  exclaiming,  delightedly, 

"  Why,  Cathy,  you  are  quite  a  beauty !  I  should  scarcely 
have  known  you — you  look  like  a  lady  now — Isabella  Linton 
is  not  to  be  compared  with  her,  is  she,  Frances  V 

"  Isabella  has  not  her  natural  advantages,"  replied  his  wife, 
"but  she  must  mind  and  not  grow  wild  again  here.  Ellen, 
help  Miss  Catherine  off  with  her  things — stay,  dear,  you  will 
disarrange  your  curls — let  me  untie  your  hat." 

I  removed  the  habit,  and  there  shone  forth  beneath  a  grand 
plaid  silk  frock  white  trousers  and  burnished  shoes  ;  and,  while 
her  eyes  sparkled  joyfully  when  the  dogs  came  bounding  up  to 
welcome  her,  she  dare  hardly  touch  them  lest  they  should  fawn 
upon  her  splendid  garments. 

She  kissed  me  gently,  I  was  all  flour  making  and  Christmas 
cake,  and  it  would  not  have  done  to  give  me  a  hug  ;  and,  then, 
she  looked  round  for  Heathcliff.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ea.rnshaw 
watched  anxiously  their  meeting,  thinking  it  would  enable 
them  to  judge,  in  some  measure,  what  grounds  they  had  for 
hoping  to  succeed  in  separating  the  two  friends. 

Heathcliff  was  hard  to  discover,  at  first.  If  he  were  care- 
less and  uncared  for,  before  Catherine's  absence,  he  had  been 
ten  times  more  so  since. 

Nobody  but  I  even  did  him  the  kindness  to  call  him  a  dirty  boy, 
and  bid  him  wash  himself,  once  a  week  ;  and  children  of  his  age 
seldom  have  a  natural  pleasure  in  soap  and  water.  Therefore, 
not  to  mention  his  clothes,  which  had  seen  three  months'  service, 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  47 

in  mire  and  dust,  and  his  thick  uncombed  hair,  the  surface  cf 
his  face  and  hands  was  dismally  beclouded.  He  might  well 
skulk  behind  the  settle,  on  beholding  such  a  bright,  graceful 
damsel  enter  the  house,  instead  of  a  rough-headed  counterpart 
to  himself,  as  he  expected. 

"  Is  Heathcliff  not  here  V\  she  demanded,  pulling  off  her 
gloves,  and  displaying  fingers  wonderfully  whitened  with  doing 
nothing,  and  staying  in  doors. 

"  Heathcliff,  you  may  come  forward,"  cried  Mr.  Hindley  en- 
joying his  discomfiture,  and  gratified  to  see  what  a  forbidding 
young  blackguard  he  would  be  compelled  to  present  himself. 
"  You  may  come  and  wish  Miss  Catherine  welcome,  like  the 
other  servants." 

Cathy,  catching  a  glimpse  of  her  friend  in  his  concealment, 
flew  to  embrace  him,  she  bestowed  seven  or  eight  kisses  on  his 
cheek  within  the  second,  and  then  stopped  and,  drawing  back, 
burst  into  a  laugh,  exclaiming, 

"Why,  how  very  black  and  cross  you  look!  and  how — 
how  funny  and  grim  !  But  that's  because  I'm  used  to  Edgar 
and  Isabella  Linton.     Well,  Heathcliff,  have  you  forgotten  me  T' 

She  had  some  reason  to  put  the  question,  for  shame  and 
pride  threw  double  gloom  over  his  countenance,  and  kept  him 
immovable. 

"  Shake  hands,  Heathcliff,"  said  Mr.  Earnshaw,  condescend- 
ingly ;  "  once  in  a  way,  that  is  permitted." 

"  I  shall  not !"  replied  the  boy,  finding  his  tongue  at  last,  "  I 
shall  not  stand  to  be  laughed  at,  I  shall  not  bear  it !" 

And  he  would  have  broken  from  the  circle,  but  Miss  Cathy 
seized  him  again. 

"  I  did  not  mean  to  laugh  at  you,"  she  said,  "  I  could  not 
hinder  myself,  Heathcliff;  shake  hands,  at  least!  What  are 
you  sulky  for1?  It  was  only  that  you  looked  odd.  If  you 
wash  your  face  and  brush  your  hair  it  will  be  all  right.  But 
you  are  so  dirty !" 

She  gazed  concernedly  at  the  dusky  fingers  she  held  in  her 
own,  and  also  at  her  dress,  which  she  feared  had  gained  no  em- 
bellishment from  its  contact  with  his. 

"You  needn't  have  touched  me!"  he  answered,  following 
her  eye,  and  snatching  away  his  hand.  "  I  shall  be  as  dirty  as  I 
please,  and  I  like  to  be  dirty,  and  I  will  be  dirty." 

With  that  he  dashed  head  foremost  out  of  the  room,  amid  the 
merriment  of  the  master  and  mistress,  and  to  the  serious  disturb- 


48  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

ance  of  Catherine,  who  could  not  comprehend  how  her  re- 
marks should  have  produced  such  an  exhibition  of  bad  tem- 
per. 

After  playing  lady's  maid  to  the  new  comer,  and  putting  my 
cakes  in  the  oven,  and  making  the  house  and  kitchen  cheerful 
with  great  fires  befitting  Christmas  eve,  I  prepared  to  sit  down 
and  amuse  myself  by  singing  carols,  all  alone ;  regardless  of 
Joseph's  affirmations  that  he  considered  the  merry  tunes  I  chose 
as  next  door  to  songs. 

He  had  retired  to  private  prayer  in  his  chamber,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Earnshaw  were  engaging  Miss's  attention  by  sundry 
gay  trifles  bought  for  her  to  present  to  the  little  Lintons,  as  an 
acknowledgment  of  their  kindness. 

They  had  invited  them  to  spend  the  morrow  at  "Wuthering 
Heights,  and  the  invitation  had  been  accepted  on  one  condition  : 
Mrs.  Linton  begged  that  her  darlings  might  be  kept  carefully 
apart  from  that  "  naughty,  swearing  boy." 

Under  these  circumstances  I  remained  solitary.  I  smelled  the 
rich  scent  of  the  heating  spices,  and  admired  the  shining  kitchen 
utensils,  the  polished  clock  decked  in  holly,  the  silver  mugs 
ranged  on  a  tray  ready  to  be  filled  with  mulled  ale  for  supper, 
and,  above  all,  the  speckless  purity  of  my  particular  care — the 
scoured  and  well-swept  floor. 

I  gave  due  inward  applause  to  every  object,  and  then  I  re- 
membered how  old  Earnshaw  used  to  come  in  when  all  was 
tidied,  and  call  me  a  cant  lass,  and  slip  a  shilling  into  my  hand 
as  a  Christmas-box;  and  from  that  I  went  on  to  think  of  his 
fondness  for  Heathcliff,  and  his  dread  lest  he  should  suffer  neg- 
lect after  death  had  removed  him ;  and  that  naturally  led  me  to 
consider  the  poor  lad's  situation  now,  and  from  singing  I  changed 
my  mind  to  crying.  It  struck  me  soon,  however,  there  would 
be  more  sense  in  endeavoring  to  repair  some  of  his  wrongs  than 
shedding  tears  over  them.  I  got  up  and  walked  into  the  court 
to  seek  him.  * 

He  was  not  far.  I  found  him  smoothing  the  glossy  coat  of 
the  new  pony  in  the  stable,  and  feeding  the  other  beasts,  accord- 
ing to  custom. 

"  Make  haste,  Heathcliff,"  I  said,  "  the  kitchen  is  so  comfort- 
able, and  Joseph  is  up-stairs.  Make  haste,  and  let  me  dress  you 
smart  before  Miss  Cathy  comes  out,  and  then  you  can  sit  to- 
gether, with  the  whole  hearth  to  yourselves,  and  have  a  long 
chatter  till  bed-time." 


WUTHE  RING     HEIGHTS.  49 

He  proceeded  with  his  task,  and  never  turned  his  head  to- 
ward me. 

*'  Qome — are  you  coming  V  I  continued.  "  There's  a  little 
cake  for  each  of  you,  nearly  enough ;  and  you'll  need  half  an 
hour's  donning." 

I  waited  five  minutes ;  but,  getting  no  answer,  then  left  him. 
Catherine  supped  with  her  brother  and  sister-in-law;  Joseph 
and  I  joined  at  an  unsociable  meal,  seasoned  with  reproofs  on 
one  side  and  sauciness  on  the  other.  His  cake  and  cheese  re- 
mained on  the  table  all  night  for  the  fairies.  He  managed  to 
continue  work  till  nine  o'clock,  and  then  marched  dumb  and 
dour  to  his  chamber. 

Cathy  sat  up  late,  having  a  world  of  things  to  order  for  the 
reception  of  her  new  friends :  she  came  into  the  kitchen  once 
to  speak  to  her  old  one,  but  he  was  gone,  and  she  only  staid  to 
ask  what  was  the  matter  with  him,  and  then  went  back. 

In  the  morning  he  rose  early ;  and,  as  it  was  a  holyday,  car- 
ried his  ill-humor  into  the  moors,  not  reappearing  till  the  family 
were  departed  for  church.  Fasting  and  reflection  seemed  to 
have  brought  him  to  a  better  spirit.  He  hung  about  me  for  a 
while,  and,  having  screwed  up  his  courage,  exclaimed  abruptly, 

"  Nelly,  make  me  decent :  I'm  going  to  be  good." 

"  High  time,  Heathcliff,"  I  said ;  "  you  have  grieved  Cathe- 
rine;  she's  sorry  she  ever  came  home,  I  dare  say.  It  looks  as 
if  you  envied  her  because  she  is  more  thought  of  than  you." 

The  notion  of  envying  Catherine  was  incomprehensible  to 
him  ;  but  the  notion  of  grieving  her  he  understood  clearly  enough. 

"  Did  she  say  she  was  grieved  ]"  he  inquired,  looking  very 
serious. 

"  She  cried  when  I  told  her  you  were  off  again  this  morning." 

"  Well,  I  cried  last  night,"  he  returned,  "  and  I  had  more 
reason  to  cry  than  she." 

"  Yes,  you  had  the  reason  of  going  to  bed  with  a  proud  heart 
and  an  empty  stomach,"  said  I.  M  Proud  people  breed  sad  sor- 
rows for  themselves.  But  if  you  be  ashamed  of  your  touchiness, 
you  must  ask  pardon,  mind,  when  she  comes  in.  You  must  go 
up  and  offer  to  kiss  her,  and  say — you  know  best  what  to  say, 
only  do  it  heartily,  and  not  as  if  you  thought  her  converted  into 
a  stranger  by  her  grand  dress.  And  now,  though  I  have  dinner 
to  get  ready,  I'll  steal  time  to  arrange  you  so  that  Edgar  Linton 
6hall  look  quite  a  doll  beside  you,  and  that  he  does.  You  are 
younger,  and  yet  I'll  be  bound  you  are  taller  and  twice  as  broad 

C 


50  WUTIIERING     HEIGHTS. 

across  the  shoulders  :  you  could  knock  him  down  in  a  twinkling 
— don't  you  feel  that  you  could  V 

Heathcliff's  face  biightened  a  moment,  then  it  was  overcast 
afresh,  and  he  sighed. 

u  But,  Nelly,  if  I  knocked  him  down  twenty  times,  that  wouldn't 
make  him  less  handsome  or  me  more  so.  I  wish  I  had  light  hair 
and  a  fair  skin,  and  was  dressed,  and  behaved  as  well,  and  had 
a  chance  of  being  as  rich  as  he  will  be  !" 

"And  cried  for  mamma  at  every  turn,"  I  added,  "  and  trem- 
bled if  a  country  lad  heaved  his  fist  against  you,  and  sat  at  home 
all  day  for  a  shower  of  rain.  O,  Heathcliff,  you  are  showing  a 
poor  spirit!  Come  to  the  glass,  and  I'll  let  you  see  what  you 
should  wish.  Do  you  mark  those  two  lines  between  your  eyes, 
and  those  thick  brows,  that,  instead  of  rising  arched,  sink  in  the 
middle;  and  that  couple  of  black  fiends,  so  deeply  buried,  who 
never  open  their  windows  boldly,  but  lurk  glinting  under  them, 
like  devil's  spies'?  Wish  and  learn  to  smooth  away  the  surly 
wrinkles,  to  raise  your  lids  frankly,  and  change  the  fiends  to  con- 
fident, innocent  angels,  suspecting  and  doubting  nothing,  and 
always  seeing  friends  where  they  are  not  sure  of  foes.  Don't 
get  the  expression  of  a  vicious  cur  that  appears  to  know  the 
kicks  it  gets  are  its  desert,  and  yet  hates  all  the  world,  as  well 
as  the  kicker,  for  what  it  suffers." 

"  In  other  words,  I  must wish  for  Edgar  Linton's  great  blue 
eyes  and  even  forehead,"  he  replied.  "  I  do,  and  that  won't 
help  me  to  them." 

"  A  good  heart  will  help  you  to  a  bonny  face,  my  lad,"  I  con- 
tinued, "if  you  were  a  regular  black,  and  a  bad  one  will  turn 
the  bonniest  into  something  worse  than  ugly.  And  now  that 
we've  done  washing,  and  combing,  and  sulking,  tell  me  whether 
you  don't  think  yourself  rather  handsome  1  I'll  tell  you,  I  do. 
You're  fit  for  a  prince  in  disguise.  Who  know7s  but  your  father 
was  Emperor  of  China  and  your  mother  an  Indian  queen,  each 
of  them  able  to  buy  up,  with  one  week's  income,  Wuthering 
Heights  and  Thrushcross  Grange  together  ]  And  you  were  kid- 
napped by  wicked  sailors,  and  brought  to  England.  Were  I  in 
your  place,  I  would  frame  high  notions  of  my  birth,  and  the 
thoughts  of  what  I  was  should  give  me  courage  and  dignity  to 
support  the  oppressions  of  a  little  farmer  !" 

So  I  chatted  on ;  and  Heathcliff  gradually  lost  his  frown,  and 
began  to  look  quite  pleasant,  when,  all  at  once,  our  conversation 
was  interrupted  by  a  rumbling  sound  moving  up  the  road  and. 


WUTHER1NG     HEIGHTS.  51 

entering  the  court.  He  ran  to  the  window  and  I  to  the  door, 
just  in  time  to  behold  the  two  Lintons  descend  from  the  family 
carriage,  smothered  in  cloaks  and  furs,  and  the  Earnshaws  dis- 
mount from  their  horses  :  they  often  rode  to  church  in  winter. 
Catherine  took  a  hand  of  each  of  the  children,  and  brought  them 
into  the  house  and  set  them  before  the  fire,  which  quickly  put 
color  into  their  white  faces. 

I  urged  my  companion  to  hasten  now,  and  show  his  amiable 
humor,  and  he  willingly  obeyed;  but  ill  luck  would  have  it 
that,  as  he  opened  the  door  leading  from  the  kitchen  on  one  side, , 
Hindley  opened  it  on  the  other.  They  met ;  and  the  master, 
irritated  at  seeing  him  clean  and  cheerful,  or  perhaps  eager  to 
keep  his  promise  to  Mrs.  Linton,  shoved  him  back  with  a  sud- 
den thrust,  and  angrily  bade  Joseph  "  keep  the  fellow  out  of  the 
room — send  him  into  the  garret  till  dinner  is  over.  He'll  be 
cramming  his  fingers  in  the  tarts,  and  stealing  the  fruit,  if  left 
alone  with  them  a  minute." 

"  Nay,  Sir,"  I  could  not  avoid  answering,  "he'll  touch  noth- 
ing, not  he — and,  I  suppose,  he  must  have  his  share  of  the  dain- 
ties as  well  as  we." 

"  He  shall  have  his  share  of  my  hand,  if  I  catch  him  down 
stairs  again  till  dark,"  cried  Hindley.  "  Begone,  you  vaga- 
bond !  What !  you  are  attempting  the  coxcomb,  are  you  1 
Wait  till  I  get  hold  of  those  elegant  locks — see  if  I  won't  pull 
them  a  bit  longer  !" 

"  They  are  long  enough  already,"  observed  Master  Linton, 
peeping  from  the  door-way,  "  I  wonder  they  don't  make  his 
head  ache.     It's  like  a  colt's  mane  over  his  eyes !" 

He  ventured  this  remark  without  any  intention  to  insult ;  but 
Heathcliffs  violent  nature  was  not  prepared  to  endure  the  ap- 
pearance of  impertinence  from  one  whom  he  seemed  to  hate, 
even  then,  as  a  rival.  He  seized  a  tureen  of  hot  apple-sauce, 
the  first  thing  that  came  under  his  gripe,  and  dashed  it  full 
against  the  speaker's  face  and  neck — who  instantly  commenced 
a  lament  that  brought  Isabella  and  Catherine  to  the  place. 

Mr.  Earnshaw  snatched  up  the  culprit  directly,  and  conveyed 
him  to  his  chamber,  where,  doubtless,  he  administered  a  rough 
remedy  to  cool  the  fit  of  passion,  for  he  reappeared  red  and 
breathless.  I  got  the  dishcloth,  and,  rather  spitefully,  scrubbed 
Edgar's  nose  and  mouth,  affirming  it  served  him  right  for  med- 
dling. His  sister  began  weeping  to  go  home,  and  Cathy  stood 
by  confounded,  blushing  for  all. 


52  WUTHEB I  N6      HEIGHTS. 

"  You  should  not  have  spoken  to  him !"  she  expostulated 
with  Master  Linton.  "He  was  in  a  bad  temper,  and  now 
you've  spoiled  your  visit,  and  he'll  be  flogged — I  hate  him  to  be 
flogged  1  I  can't  eat  my  dinner.  Why  did  you  speak  to  him, 
Edgar]" 

"  I  didn't,"  sobbed  the  youth,  escaping  from  my  hands,  and 
finished  the  remainder  of  the  purification  with  his  cambric 
pocket-handkerchief.  "  I  promised  mamma  that  I  wouldn't  say 
one  word  to  him,  and  I  didn't !" 

"Well,  don't  cry!"  replied  Catherine  contemptuously. 
"  You're  not  killed — -don't  make  more  mischief — my  brother  is 
coming — -be  quiet !  Give  over,  Isabella  !  Has  any  body  hurt 
youV 

"  There,  there,  children — to  your  seats !"  cried  Hindley, 
bustling  in.  "  That  brute  of  a  lad  has  warmed  me  nicely. 
Next  time,  Master  Edgar,  take  the  law  into  your  own  fists — it 
will  give  you  an  appetite !" 

The  little  party  recovered  its  equanimity  at  the  sight  of  the 
fragrant  feast.  They  were  hungry,  after  their  ride,  and  easily 
consoled,  since  no  real  harm  had  befallen  them. 

Mr.  Earnshaw  carved  bountiful  platefuls  ;  and  the  mistress 
made  them  merry  with  lively  talk.  I  waited  behind  her  chair, 
and  was  pained  to  behold  Catherine,  with  dry  eyes  and  an  in- 
different air,  commence  cutting  up  the  wing  of  a  goose  before 
her. 

"  An  unfeeling  child,"  I  thought  to  myself,  "  how  lightly  she 
dismisses  her  old  playmate's  troubles.  I  could  not  have  imag- 
ined her  to  be  so  selfish." 

She  lifted  a  mouthful  to  her  lips ;  then,  she  set  it  down  again : 
her  cheeks  flushed,  and  the  tears  gushed  over  them.  She 
slipped  her  fork  to  the  floor,  and  hastily  dived  under  the  cloth 
to  conceal  her  emotion.  I  did  not  call  her  unfeeling  long,  for  I 
perceived  she  was  in  purgatory  throughout  the  day,  and  weary- 
ing to  find  an  opportunity  of  getting  by  herself,  or  paying  a  visit 
to  Heathcliff,  who  had  been  locked  up  by  the  master,  as  I  dis- 
covered on  endeavoring  to  introduce  to  him  a  private  mess  of 
victuals. 

In  the  evening  we  had  a  dance.  Cathy  begged  that  he  might 
be  liberated  then,  as  Isabella  Linton  had  no  partner :  her  en- 
treaties were  vain,  and  I  was  appointed  to  supply  the  defi- 
ciency. 

We  got  rid  of  all  gloom  in  the  excitement  of  the  exercise,  and 


WUTHERIN-O      HEIGHTS.  53 

our  pleasure  was  increased  by  the  arrival  of  the  Gimmerton 
band,  mustering  fifteen  strong ;  a  trumpet,  a  trombone,  clarion- 
nets,  bassoons,  French  horns,  and  a  bass  viol,  besides  singers. 
They  go  th^  rounds  of  all  the  respectable  houses,  and  receive 
contributions  every  Christmas,  and  we  esteemed  it  a  first-rate 
treat  to  hear  them. 

After  the  usual  carols  had  been  sung,  we  set  them  to  song3 
and  glees.  Mrs.  Earnshaw  loved  the  music,  and  so  they  gave 
us  plenty. 

Catherine  loved  it  too;  but  she  said  it  sounded  sweetest  at 
the  top  of  the  steps,  and  she  went  up  in  the  dark  :  I  followed. 
They  shut  the  house  door  below,  never  noting  our  absence,  it 
was  so  full  of  people.  She  made  no  stay  at  the  stair's  head,  but 
mounted  farther  to  the  garret  where  Heathcliff  was  confined ; 
and  called  him.  He  stubbornly  declined  answering  for  a  while 
— she  persevered,  and  finally  persuaded  him  to  hold  communion 
with  her  through  the  boards. 

I  let  the  poor  things  converse  unmolested,  till  I  supposed  the 
songs  were  going  to  cease,  and  the  singers  to  get  some  refresh- 
ment :  then  I  clambered  up  the  ladder  to  warn  her. 

Instead  of  finding  her  outside,  I  heard  her  voice  within.  The 
little  monkey  had  crept  by  the  skylight  of  one  garret,  along  the 
roof,  into  the  skylight  of  the  other,  and  it  was  with  the  utmost 
difficulty  I  could  coax  her  out  again. 

When  she  did  come,  Heathcliff  came  with  her ;  and  she  in- 
sisted that  I  should  take  him  into  the  kitchen,  as  my  fellow-ser- 
vant had  gone  to  a  neighbor's  to  be  removed  from  the  sound  of 
our  "  devil's  psalmody,"  as  it  pleased  him  to  call  it. 

I  told  them  I  intended  by  no  means  to  encourage  their  tricks  ; 
but  as  the  prisoner  had  never  broken  his  fast  since  yesterday's 
dinner,  I  would  wink  at  his  cheating  Mr.  Hindley  that  once. 

He  went  down  ;  I  set  him  a  stool  by  the  fire,  and  offered  him 
a  quantity  of  good  things  ;  but  he  was  sick,  and  could  eat  little  : 
and  my  attempts  to  entertain  him  were  thrown  away.  He  leaned 
his  two  elbows  on  his  knees,  and  his  chin  on  his  hands,  and  re- 
mained wrapt  in  dumb  meditation.  On  my  inquiring  the  sub- 
ject of  his  thoughts,  he  answered,  gravely — 

"  I'm  trying  to  settle  how  I  shall  pay  Hindley  back.  I  don't 
care  how  long  I  wait,  if  I  can  only  do  it  at  last.  I  hope  he  will 
not  die  before  I  do  !" 

"  For  shame,  Heathcliff!"  said  I.  "It  is  for  God  to  punish 
wicked  people  ;  we  should  learn  to  forgive." 


54  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  No,  God  won't  have  the  satisfaction  that  I  shall,"  he  re- 
turned. "  I  only  wish  I  knew  the  best  way !  Let  me  alone, 
and  I'll  plan  it  out :  while  I'm  thinking  of  that  I  don't  feel 
pain." — 

But,  Mr.  Lockwood,  I  forget  these  tales  can  not  divert  you. 
I'm  annoyed  how  I  should  dream  of  chattering  on  at  such  a 
rate  ;  and  your  gruel  cold,  and  you  nodding  for  bed  !  I  could 
have  told  Heathcliff's  history,-afl  that  you  need  hear,  in  half-a- 
dozen  words. — 

Thus  interrupting  herself,  the  housekeeper  rose,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  lay  aside  her  sewing;  but  I  felt  incapable  of  moving 
from  the  hearth,  and  I  was  very  far  from  nodding. 

"Sit  still,  Mrs.  Dean,"  I  cried,  "  do  sit  still  another  half-hour ! 
You've  done  just  light  to  tell  the  story  leisurely.  That  is  the 
method  I  like  ;  and  you  must  finish  in  the  same  style.  I  am  in- 
terested in  every  character  you  have  mentioned,  more  or  less." 

"  The  clock  is  on  the  stroke  of  eleven,  sir." 

"  No  matter — I'm  not  accustomed  to  go  to  bed  in  the  long 
hours.  One  or  two  is  early  enough  for  a  person  who  lies  till 
ten." 

"  You  shouldn't  lie  till  ten.  There's  the  very  prime  of  the 
morning  gone  long  before  that  time.  A  person  who  has  not 
done  one  half  his  day's  work  by  ten  o'clock,  runs  a  chance  of 
leaving  the  other  half  undone." 

*'  Nevertheless,  Mrs.  Dean,  resume  your  chair;  because  to- 
morrow I  intend  lengthening  the  night  till  afternoon.  I  prog- 
nosticate for  myself  an  obstinate  cold,  at  least." 

"  I  hope  not,  sir.  Well,  you  must  allow  me  to  leap  over 
some  three  years.     During  that  space,  Mrs.  Earnshaw" — 

"  No,  no,  I'll  allow  nothing  of  the  sort.  Are  you  acquainted 
with  the  mood  of  mind  in  which,  if  you  were  seated  alone,  and 
the  cat  licking  its  kitten  on  the  rug  before  you,  you  would 
watch  the  operation  so  intently  that  puss's  neglect  of  one  ear 
would  put  you  seriously  out  of  temper1?" 

"A  terrible  lazy  mood,  I  should  say." 

"  On  the  contrary,  a  tiresomely  active  one.  It  is  mine  at 
present,  and  therefore  continue  minutely.  I  perceive  that  peo- 
ple in  these  regions  acquire  over  people  in  towns  the  value  that 
a  spider  in  a  dungeon  does  over  a  spider  in  a  cottage,  to  their 
various  occupants;  and  yet  the  deepened  attraction  is  not  en- 
tirely owing  to  the  situation  of  the  looker-on.  They  do  live 
more  in  earnest,  more  in  themselves,  and  less  in  surface  change; 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  55 

and  frivolous  external  things.  I  could  fancy  a  love  for  life  here 
almost  possible ;  and  I  was  a  fixed  unbeliever  in  any  love  of  a 
year's  standing.  One  state  resembles  setting  a  hungry  man  down 
to  a  single  dish,  on  which  he  may  concentrate  his  entire  appe- 
tite, and  do  it  justice — the  other,  introducing  him  to  a  table  laid 
out  by  French  cooks;  he  can  perhaps  extract  as  much  enjoy- 
ment from  the  whole  ;  but  each  part  is  a  mere  atom  in  his  regard 
and  remembrance." 

"  Oh !  here  we  are  the  same  as  any  where  else,  when  you  get 
to  know  us,"  observed  Mrs.  Dean,  somewhat  puzzled  at  my 
speech. 

"  Excuse  me,"  I  responded  ;  "  you,  my  good  friend,  are  a 
striking  evidence  against  that  assertion.  Excepting  a  few  pro- 
vincialisms of  slight  consequence,  you  have  no  marks  of  the 
manners  that  I  am  habituated  to  consider  as  peculiar  to  your 
class.  I  am  sure  you  have  thought  a  great  deal  more  than  the 
generality  of  servants  think.  You  have  been  compelled  to  cul- 
tivate your  reflective  faculties,  for  want  of  occasions  for  fritter- 
ing your  life  away  in  silly  trifles." 

Mrs.  Dean  laughed. 

"  I  certainly  esteem  myself  a  steady,  reasonable  kind  of  body," 
she  said,  "  not  exactly  from  living  among  the  hills,  and  seeing 
one  set  of  faces,  and  one  series  of  actions,  from  year's  end  to 
year's  end  :  but  I  have  undergone  sharp  discipline,  which  has 
taught  me  wisdom  ;  and  then  I  have  read  more  than  you  would 
fancy,  Mr.  Lock  wood.  You  could  not  open  a  book  in  this  li- 
brary that  I  have  not  looked  into,  and  got  something  out  of 
also ;  unless  it  be  that  range  of  Greek  and  Latin,  and  that  of 
French  ;  and  those  I  know  one  from  another — it  is  as  much  as 
you  can  expect  of  a  poor  man's  daughter. 

"  However,  if  1  am  to  follow  my  story  in  true  gossip's  fashion, 
I  had  better  go  on ;  and  instead  of  leaping  three  years,  I  will 
be  content  to  pass  to  the  next  summer — the  summer  of  1778 — 
that  is  nearly  twenty-three  years  ago." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

On  the  morning  of  a  fine  June  day,  my  first  bonny  little  nurs- 
ling, and  the  last  of  the  ancient  Earnshaw  stock,  was  born. 

We  were  busy  with  the  hay  in  a  far-away  field,  when  the 
girl  that  usually  brought  our  breakfasts  came  running,  an  hour 
too  soon,  across  the  meadow  and  up  the  lane,  calling  me  as  she 
ran. 

"  Oh,  such  a  grand  bairn !"  she  panted  out.  "  The  finest  lad 
that  ever  breathed  !  but  the  doctor  says  missis  must  go  ;  he  says 
she's  been  in  a  consumption  these  many  months.  I  heard  him 
tell  Mr.  Hindley — and  now  she  has  nothing  to  keep  her,  and 
she'll  be  dead  before  winter.  You  must  come  home  directly. 
You're  to  nurse  it,  Nelly — to  feed  it  with  sugar  and  milk,  and 
take  care  of  it,  day  and  night — I  wish  I  were  you,  because  it 
will  be  all  yours  when  there  is  no  missis !" 

"But  is  she  very  ill1?"  I  asked,  flinging  down  my  rake,  and 
tying  my  bonnet. 

"  I  guess  she  is ;  yet  she  looks  bravely,"  replied  the  girl, 
H  and  she  talks  as  if  she  thought  of  living  to  see  it  grow  a  man. 
She's  out  of  her  head  for  joy,  it's  such  a  beauty.  If  I  were  her 
I'm  certain  I  should  not  die.  I  should  get  better  at  the  bare 
sight  of  it,  in  spite  of  Kenneth.  I  was  fairly  mad  at  him.  Dame 
Archer  brought  the  cherub  down  to  master,  in  the  house,  and 
his  face  just  began  to  light  up,  then  the  old  croaker  steps  for- 
ward, and,  says  he,  'Earnshaw,  it's  a  blessing  your  wife  has 
been  spared  to  leave  you  this  son.  When  she  came,  I  felt  con- 
vinced we  shouldn't  keep  her  long ;  and  now,  I  must  tell  you, 
the  winter  will  probably  finish  her.  Don't  take  on,  and  fret 
about  it  too  much  ;  it  can't  be  helped.  And  besides,  you  should 
have  known  better  than  to  choose  such  a  rush  of  a  lass." 

"  And  what  did  the  master  answer  V  I  inquired. 

"I  think  he  swore — but  I  didn't  mind  him,  I  was  straining 
to  see  the  bairn,"  and  she  began  again  to  describe  it  raptur- 
ously. I,  as  zealous  as  herself,  hurried  eagerly  home  to  admire, 
on  my  part,  though  I  was  very  sad  for  Hindley's  sake  ;  he  had 
room  in  his  heart  only  for  two  idols — his  wife  and  himself — he 
doted  on  both,  and  adored  one;  and  I  couldn't  conceive  how  he 
would  bear  the  loss. 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  57 

When  we  got  to  Wuthering  Heights,  there  he  stood  at  the 
front  door ;  and,  as  I  passed  in,  I  asked  how  was  the  baby  ] 

"  Nearly  ready  to  run  about,  Nell!"  he  replied,  putting  on  a 
cheerful  smile. 

"  And  the  mistress  ]"  I  ventured  to  inquire,  "  the  doctor 
says  she's — " 

"  Damn  the  doctor  !"  he  interrupted,  reddening.  "  Frances 
is  quite  right — she'll  be  perfectly  well  by  this  time  next  week. 
Are  you  going  up-stairs  1  will  you  tell  her  that  I'll  come,  if 
she'll  promise  not  to  talk.  I  left  her  because  she  would  not 
hold  her  tongue;  and  she  must — tell  her  Mr.  Kenneth  says 
she  must  be  quiet." 

I  delivered  this  message  to  Mrs.  Earnshaw;  she  seemed  in 
flighty  spirits,  and  replied  merrily — 

"  I  hardly  spoke  a  word,  Ellen,  and  there  he  has  gone  out 
twice,  crying.  Well,  say  I  promise  I  won't  speak ;  but  that 
does  not  bind  me  not  to  laugh  at  him !" 

Poor  soul !  Till  within  a  week  of  her  death  that  gay  heart 
never  failed  her;  and  her  husband  persisted  doggedly,  nay, 
furiously,  in  affirming  her  health  improved  .every  day.  When 
Kenneth  warned  him  that  his  medicines  were  useless  at  that 
stage  of  the  malady,  and  he  needn't  put  him  to  further  expense 
by  attending  her,  he  retorted — 

"  I  know  you  need  not — she's  well — she  does  not  want  any 
more  attendance  from  you  !  She  never  was  in  a  consumption. 
It  was  a  fever ;  and  it  is  gone — her  pulse  is  as  slow  as  mine  now, 
and  her  cheek  as  cool." 

He  told  his  wife  the  same  story,  and  she  seemed  to  believe 
him  ;  but  one  night  while  leaning  on  his  shoulder,  in  the  act  of 
saying  she  thought  she  should  be  able  to  get  up  to-morrow,  a  fit 
of  coughing  took  her — a  very  slight  one — he  raised  her  in  his 
arms  ;  she  put  her  two  hands  about  his  neck,  her  face  changed, 
and  she  was  dead. 

As  the  girl  had  anticipated,  the  child  Hareton  fell  wholly 
into  my  hands.  Mr.  Earnshaw,  provided  he  saw  him  healthy, 
and  never  heard  him  cry,  was  contented,  as  far  as  regarded 
him.  For  himself  he  grew  desperate ;  his  sorrow  was  of  that 
kind  that  will  not  lament ;  he  neither  wept  nor  prayed ;  he 
cursed  and  defied  ;  execrated  God  and  man,  and  gave  himself 
up  to  reckless  dissipation. 

The  servants  could  not  bear  his  tyrannical  and  evil  conduct 
long.     Joseph  and  I  were  the  only  two  that  would  stay.     I  had 


5$  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

not  the  heart  to  leave  my  charge  ;  and  besides,  you  know  I  had 
been  his  foster-sister,  and  excused  his  behavior  more  readily 
than  a  stranger  would. 

Joseph  remained  to  hector  over  tenants  and  laborers ;  and 
because  it  was  his  vocation  to  be  where  he  had  plenty  of  wick- 
edness to  reprove. 

The  master's  bad  ways  and  bad  companions  formed  a  pretty 
example  for  Catherine  and  Heath  cliff.  His  treatment  of  the 
latter  was  enough  to  make  a  fiend  of  a  saint.  And  truly  it  ap- 
peared as  if  the  lad  were  possessed  of  something  diabolical  at 
that  period.  He  delighted  to  witness  Hindley  degrading  him- 
self past  redemption  ;  and  became  daily  more  notable  for  savage 
sullenness  and  ferocity. 

I  could  not  half  tell  what  an  infernal  house  we  had.  The 
curate  dropped  calling,  and  nobody  decent  came  near  us  at  last ; 
unless  Edgar  Linton's  visits  to  Miss  Cathy  might  be  an  excep- 
tion. At  fifteen  she  was  the  queen  of  the  country-side;  she  had 
no  peer  :  and  she  did  turn  out  a  haughty,  headstrong  creature  ! 
I  own  I  did  not  like  her,  after  her  infancy  was  past ;  and  I 
vexed  her  frequently  by  trying  to  bring  down  her  arrogance ; 
she  never  took  an  aversion  to  me,  though.  She  had  a  wondrous 
constancy  to  old  attachments  ;  even  Heathcliff  kept  his  hold  on 
her  affections  unalterably ;  and  young  Linton,  with  all  his  supe- 
riority, found  it  difficult  to  make  an  equally  deep  impression. 

He  was  my  late  master  ;  that  is  his  portrait  over  the  fireplace. 
It  used  to  hang  on  one  side,  and  his  wife's  on  the  other ;  but 
hers  has  been  removed,  or  else  you  might  see  something  of 
what  she  was.     Can  you  make  that  out] — 

Mrs.  Dean  raised  the  candle,  and  I  discerned  a  soft-featured 
face,  exceedingly  resembling  the  young  lady  at  the  Heights,  but 
more  pensive  and  amiable  in  expression.  It  formed  a  sweet 
picture.  The  long  light  hair  curled  slightly  on  the  temples ; 
the  eyes  were  large  and  serious ;  the  figure  almost  too  grace- 
ful. I  did  not  marvel  how  Catherine  Earnshaw  could  forget 
her  first  friend  for  such  an  individual.  I  marveled  much  how 
he,  with  a  mind  to  correspond  to  his  person,  could  fancy  my 
idea  of  Catherine  Earnshaw. 

"  A  very  agreeable  portrait,"  I  observed  to  the  housekeeper. 
"  Is  it  like]" 

Yes,  she  answered ;  but  he  looked  better  when  he  was  ani- 
mated; that  is  his  every-day  countenance;  he  wanted  spirit 
in  general. 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  59 

Catherine  had  kept  up  her  acquaintance  with  the  Lintons  since 
her  five  weeks'  residence,  among  them  ;  and  as  she  had  no  temp- 
tation to  show  her  rough  side  in  their  company,  and  had  the 
sense  to  be  ashamed  of  being  rude  where  she  experienced  such 
invariable  courtesy  ;  she  imposed  unwittingly  on  the  old  lady  and 
gentleman  by  her  ingenuous  cordiality ;  gained  the  admiration 
of  Isabella,  and  the  heart  and  soul  of  her  brother — acquisitions 
that  flattered  her  from  the  first,  for  she  was  full  of  ambition,  and 
led  her  to  adopt  a  double  character,  without  exactly  intending 
to  deceive  any  one. 

In  the  place  where  she  heard  Heathcliff  termed  a  "  vulgar 
young  ruffian,"  and  "  worse  than  a  brute,"  she  took  care  not  to 
act  like  him ;  but  at  home  she  had  small  inclination  to  practice 
politeness  that  would  only  be  laughed  at,  and  restrain  an  unruly 
nature  when  it  would  bring  her  neither  credit  nor  praise. 

Mr.  Edgar  seldom  mustered  courage  to  visit  Wuthering 
Heights  openly.  He  had  a  terror  of  Earnshaw's  reputation, 
and  shrunk  from  encountering  him ;  and  yet  he  was  always  re- 
ceived with  our  best  attempts  at  civility :  the  master  himself 
avoided  offending  him,  knowing  why  he  came ;  and  if  he  could 
not  be  gracious,  kept  out  of  the  way.  I  rather  think  his  appear- 
ance there  was  distasteful  to  Catherine;  she  was  not  artful — 
never  played  the  coquette,  and  had  evidently  an  objection  to  her 
two  friends  meeting  at  all ;  for  when  Heathcliff  expressed  con- 
tempt of  Linton,  in  his  presence,  she  could  not  half  coincide,  as 
she  did  in  his  absence;  and  when  Linton  evinced  disgust  and 
antipathy  to  Heathcliff,  she  dared  not  treat  his  sentiments  with 
indifference,  as  if  depreciation  of  her  playmate  were  of  scarcely 
any  consequence  to  her. 

I've  had  many  a  laugh  at  her  perplexities  and  untold  troubles, 
which  she  vainly  strove  to  hide  from  my  mockery.  That  sounds 
ill-natured — but  she  was  so  proud,  it  became  really  impossible 
to  pity  her  distresses,  till  she  should  be  chastened  into  more 
humility. 

She  did  bring  herself  finally  to  confess,  and  confide  in  rne. 
There  was  not  a  soul  else  that  she  might  fashion  into  an  adviser. 

Mr.  Hindley  had  gone  from  home  one  afternoon,  and  Heath- 
cliff presumed  to  give  himself  a  holiday  on  the  strength  of  it. 
He  had  reached  the  age  of  sixteen  then,  I  think,  and  without 
having  bad  features  or  being  deficient  in  intellect,  he  contrived 
to  convey  an  impression  of  inward  and  outward  repulsiveness 
that  his  present  aspect  retains  no  traces  of. 


60  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

In  the  first  place,  he  had,  by  that  time,  lost  the  benefit  of  his 
early  education  :  continual  hard  work,  begun  soon  and  concluded 
late,  had  extinguished  any  curiosity  he  once  possessed  in  pursuit 
of  knowledge,  and  any  love  for  books  or  learning.  His  child- 
hood's sense  of  superiority,  instilled  into  him  by  the  favors  of 
old  Mr.  Earnshaw,  was  faded  away.  He  struggled  long  to 
keep  up  an  equality  with  Catherine  in  her  studies,  and  yielded 
with  poignant  though  silent  regret ;  but  he  yielded  completely, 
and  there  was  no  prevailing  on  him  to  take  a  step  in  the  way 
of  moving  upward,  when  he  found  he  must  necessarily  sink  be- 
neath his  former  level.  Then  personal  appearance  sympathized 
with  mental  deterioration ;  he  acquired  a  slouching  gait  and  ig- 
noble look ;  his  naturally  reserved  disposition  was  exaggerated 
into  an  almost  idiotic  excess  of  unsociable  moroseness ;  and  he 
took  a  grim  pleasure,  apparently,  in  exciting  the  aversion,  rather 
than  the  esteem,  of  his  few  acquaintance. 

Catherine  and  he  were  constant  companions  still,  at  his  sea- 
sons of  respite  from  labor;  but  he  had  ceased  to  express  his 
fondness  for  her  in  words,  and  recoiled  with  angry  suspicion 
from  her  girlish  caresses,  as  if  conscious  there  could  be  no  grat- 
ification in  lavishing  such  marks  of  affection  on  him.  On  the 
before-named  occasion  he  came  into  the  house  to  announce  his 
intention  of  doing  nothing,  while  I  was  assisting  Miss  Cathy  to 
arrange  her  dress.  She  had  not  reckoned  on  his  taking  it  into 
his  head  to  be  idle ;  and,  imagining  she  would  have  the  whole 
place  to  herself,  she  managed,  by  some  means,  to  inform  Mr. 
Edgar  of  her  brother's  absence,  and  was  then  preparing  to  re- 
ceive him. 

"  Cathy,  are  you  busy  this  afternoon  V  asked  Heathcliff. 
"  Are  you  going  any  where  |" 

"  No- — it  is  raining,"  she  answered. 

"  Why  have  you  that  silk  frock  on,  then  V  he  said.  "  Nobody 
coming  here,  I  hope  ?" 

"  Not  that  I  know  of,"  stammered  Miss ;  "  but  you  should  be 
in  the  field  now,  Heathcliff-— it  is  an  hour  past  dinner  time ;  I 
thought  you  were  gone." 

"  Hindley  does  not  often  free  us  from  his  accursed  presence," 
observed  the  boy ;  "  I'll  not  work  any  more  to-day — I'll  stay 
with  you." 

"  O,  but  Joseph  will  tell,"  she  suggested — you'd  better  go  !" 

"Joseph  is  loading  lime  on  the  farther  side  of  Pennistow 
Crag;  it  will  take  him  till  dark,  and  he'll  never  know." 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  61 

So  saying,  he  lounged  to  the  fire,  and  sat  down.  Catherine 
reflected  an  instant  with  knitted  brows  She  found  it  needful 
to  smooth  the  way  for  an  intrusion. 

"Isabella  and  Edgar  Linton  talked  of  calling  this  afternoon," 
she  said,  at  the  conclusion  of  a  minute's  silence.  "  As  it  rains,  I 
hardly  expect  them ;  but  they  may  come,  and  if  they  do,  you 
run  the  risk  of  being  scolded  for  no  good." 

"  Order  Ellen  to  say  you  are  engaged,  Cathy,"  he  persisted  ; 
"  don't  turn  me  out  for  those  pitiful  silly  friends  of  yours  !  I'm 
on  the  point,  sometimes,  of  complaining  that  they — but  I'll  not — " 

"That  they  what1?"  cried  Catherine,  gazing  at  him  with  a 
troubled  countenance.  "  Oh,  Nelly !"  she  added,  petulantly 
jerking  her  head  away  from  my  hands ;  "  you've  combed  my 
hair  quite  out  of  curl !  That's  enough — let  me  alone.  What 
are  you  on  the  point  of  complaining  about,  Heathcliff  ]" 

"  Nothing — only  look  at  the  almanac,  on  that  wall ;"  he 
pointed  to  a  framed  sheet  hanging  near  the  window,  and 
continued : 

"  The  crosses  are  for  the  evenings  you  have  spent  with  the 
Lintons,  the  dots  for  those  spent  with  me.  Do  you  see,  I've 
marked  every  day1?" 

"  Yes — very  foolish  ;  as  if  I  took  notice  !"  replied  Catherine 
in  a  peevish  tone.     "  And  where  is  the  sense  of  that  1 " 

"  To  show  that  I  do  take  notice,"  said  Heathcliff. 

"  And  should  I  always  be  sitting  with  you  ]  "  she  demanded, 
growing  more  irritated.  "  What  good  do  I  get  ]  what  do  you 
talk  about !  You  might  be  dumb  or  a  baby,  for  any  thing  you 
say  to  amuse  me,  or  for  any  thing  you  do  either  1 " 

"  You  never  told  me  before  that  I  talked  too  little,  or  that 
you  disliked  my  company,  Cathy  !"  exclaimed  Heathcliff,  in 
much  agitation. 

"  It  is  no  company  at  all,  when  people  know  nothing  and 
say  nothing,"  she  muttered. 

Her  companion  rose  up,  but  he  had  not  time  to  express  his 
feelings  further;  for  a  horse's  feet  were  heard  on  the  flags, 
and,  having  knocked  gently,  young  Linton  entered,  his  face 
brilliant  with  delight  at  the  unexpected  summons  he  had 
received. 

Doubtless  Catherine  marked  the  difference  between  her 
friends  as  one  came  in  and  the  other  went  out.  The  contrast 
resembled  what  you  see  in  exchanging  a  bleak,  hilly  coal- 
country  for  a  beautiful,  fertile  valley ;  and  his  voice  and  greeting 


62  WUT  BERING      HEIGHTS. 

were  as  opposite  as  his  aspect.  He  had  a  sweet,  low  manner 
of  speaking,  and  pronounced  his  words  as  you  do,  that  is,  less 
gruff  than  we  talk  here,  and  softer. 

"  I'm  not  come  too  soon,  am  I  V  he  said,  casting  a  look  at 
me.  I  had  begun  to  wipe  the  plate,  and  tidy  some  drawers  at 
the  far  end  in  the  dresser. 

"  No,"  answered  Catherine.  "  What  are  you  doing  there, 
Nelly]" 

"  My  work,  Miss,"  I  replied.  (Mr.  Hindley  had  given  me 
directions  to  make  a  third  party  in  any  private  visits  Linton 
chose  to  pay.) 

She  stepped  behind  me  and  whispered  crossly,  "  Take  your- 
self and  your  dusters  off!  When  company  are  in  the  house, 
servants  don't  commence  scouring  and  cleaning  in  the  room 
where  they  are !" 

"  It's  a  good  opportunity,  now  that  master  is  away,"  I 
answered  aloud,  "  he  hates  me  to  be  fidgeting  over  these  things 
in  his  presence.     I'm  sure  Mr.  Edgar  will  excuse  me." 

"  I  hate  you  to  be  fidgeting  in  my  presence,"  exclaimed  the 
young  lady  imperiously,  not  allowing  her  guest  time  to  speak. 
She  had  failed  to  recover  her  equanimity  since  the  little  dispute 
with  Heathcliff. 

"  I'm  sorry  for  it,  Miss  Catherine  !"  was  my  response ;  and  I 
proceeded  assiduously  with  my  occupation. 

She,  supposing  Edgar  could  not  see  her,  snatched  the  cloth 
from  my  hand,  and  pinched  me,  with  a  prolonged  wrench,  very 
spitefully,  on  the  arm. 

I  have  said  I  did  not  love  her;  and, rather  relished  mortifying 
her  vanity  now  and  then ;  besides,  she  hurt  me  extremely,  so  I 
started  up  from  my  knees,  and  screamed  out — 

"  O,  Miss,  that's  a  nasty  trick !  you  have  no  right  to  nip  me, 
and  I'm  not  going  to  bear  it !" 

"I  did'nt  touch  you,  you  lying  creature!"  cried  she,  her 
fingers  tingling  to  repeat  the  act,  and  her  ears  red  with  rage. 
She  never  had  power  to  conceal  her  passion,  it  always  set  her 
whole  complexion  in  a  blaze. 

"What's  that  then]"  I  retorted,  showing  a  decided  purple 
witness  to  refute  her. 

She  stamped  her  foot,  wavered  a  moment,  and  then,  irresist- 
ibly impelled  by  the  naughty  spirit  within  her,  slapped  me  on 
the  cheek  a  stinging  blow  that  filled  both  eyes  with  water. 

"  Catherine,  love !    Catherine  !"    interposed   Linton,  greatly 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  63 

shocked  at  the  double  fault  of  falsehood  and  violence  which  his 
idol  bad  committed. 

"  Leave  the  room,  Ellen  !"  she  repeated,  trembling  all  over. 

Little  Hareton,  who  followed  me  every  where,  and  was 
sitting  near  me  on  the  floor,  at  seeing  my  tears,  commenced 
crying  himself,  and  sobbed  out  complaints  against  "  wicked 
aunt  Cathy,"  which  drew  her  fury  upon  his  unlucky  head  : 
she  seized  his  shoulders,  and  shook  him  till  the  poor  child 
waxed  livid,  and  Edgar  thoughtlessly  laid  hold  of  her  hands 
to  deliver  him.  In  an  instant  one  was  wrung  free,  and  the 
astonished  young  man  felt  it  applied  over  his  own  ear  in  a  way 
that  could  not  be  mistaken  for  jest. 

He  drew  back  in  consternation — I  lifted  Hareton  in  my 
arms,  and  walked  off  to  the  kitchen  with  him,  leaving  the  door 
of  communication  open ;  for  I  was  curious  to  watch  how  they 
would  settle  their  disagreement. 

The  insulted  visitor  moved  to  the  spot  where  he  had  laid  his 
hat,  pale  and  with  a  quivering  lip. 

"  That's  right !"  I  said  to  myself,  "  take  warning,  and  be- 
gone !  It's  a  kindness  to  let  you  have  a  glimpse  of  her  genuine 
disposition." 

"Where  are  you  going]"  demanded  Catherine,  advancing 
to  the  door. 

He  swerved  aside,  and  attempted  to  pass. 

"  You  must  not  go  !"  she  exclaimed  energetically. 

"  I  must  and  shall !"  he  replied  in  a  subdued  voice. 

"  No,"  she  persisted,  grasping  the  handle,  "  not  yet,  Edgar 
Linton — sit  down,  you  shall  not  leave  me  in  that  temper.  I 
should  be  miserable  all  night,  and  I  won't  be  miserable  for  you !" 

"  Can  I  stay  after  you  have  struck  me  T'  asked  Linton. 

Catherine  was  mute. 

"  You've  made  me  afraid,  and  ashamed  of  you ;"  he  con- 
tinued, "  I'll  not  come  here  again!" 

Her  eyes  began  to  glisten  and  her  lids  to  twinkle. 

"  And  you  told  a  deliberate  untruth !"  he  said. 

"  I  didn't  !"  she  cried,  recovering  her  speech  :  *'  I  did 
nothing  deliberately.  Well,  go  if  you  please — get  away.  And 
now  I'll  cry — I'll  cry  m/self  sick !" 

She  dropped  down  on  her  knees  by  a  chair,  and  set  to 
weeping  in  serious  earnest. 

Edgar  persevered  in  his  resolution  as  far  as  the  court ;  there 
he  lingered.     I  resolved  to  encourage  him. 


64  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  Miss  is  dreadfully  wayward,  sir  !"  I  called  out.  "  As  bad 
as  any  marred  child.  You'd  better  be  riding  home,  or  else 
she  will  be  sick,  only  to  grieve  us." 

The  soft  thing  looked  askance  through  the  window — he 
possessed  the  power  to  depart,  as  much  as  a  cat  possesses  the 
power  to  leave  a  mouse  half  killed,  or  a  bird  half  eaten. 

Ah,  I  thought,  there  will  be  no  saving  him.  He  is  doomed, 
and  flies  to  his  fate  ! 

And  so  it  was  ;  he  turned  abruptly,  hastened  into  the  house 
again,  shut  the  door  behind  him ;  and  when  I  went  in  a  while 
after  to  inform  them  that  Earnshaw  had  come  home  rabid 
drunk,  ready  to  pull  the  old  place  about  our  ears  (his  ordi- 
nary frame  of  mind  in  that  condition),  I  saw  the  quarrel  had 
merely  effected  a  closer  intimacy — had  broken  the  outworks  of 
youthful  timidity,  and  enabled  them  to  forsake  the  disguise  of 
friendship,  and  confess  themselves  lovers. 

Intelligence  of  Mr.  Hindley's  arrival  drove  Linton  speedily 
to  his  horse,  and  Catherine  to  her  chamber.  I  went  to  hide 
little  Hareton,  and  to  take  the  shot  out  of  the  master's  fowling- 
piece,  which  he  was  fond  of  playing  with  in  his  insane  excite- 
ment, to  the  hazard  of  the  lives  of  any  who  provoked,  or  even 
attracted  his  notice  too  much ;  and  I  had  hit  upon  the  plan  of 
removing  it,  that  he  might  do  less  mischief,  if  he  did  go  the 
length  of  firing  the  gun. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

He  entered,  vociferating  oaths  dreadful  to  hear ;  and  caught 
me  in  the  act  of  stowing  his  son  away  in  the  kitchen  cupboard. 
Hareton  was  impressed  with  a  wholesome  terror  of  encounter- 
ing either  his  wild-beast's  fondness,  or  his  madman's  rage — for 
in  one  he  ran  a  chance  of  being  squeezed  and  kissed  to  death, 
and  in  the  other  of  being  flung  into  the  fire,  or  dashed  against 
the  wall — and  the  poor  thing  remained  perfectly  quiet  wherever 
I  chose  to  put  him. 

"  There  I've  found  it  out  at  last !"  cried  Hindley,  pulling  me 
back  by  the  skin  of  the  neck,  like  a  dog.  "  By  Heaven  and 
Hell,  you've  sworn  between  you  to  murder  that  child  !     I  know 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  C5 

*•<  — — — ■ ' 

how  it  is,  now,  that  he  is  always  out  of  my  way.  But,  w"ith  the 
help  of  Satan,  I  shall  make  you  swallow  the  carving  knife, 
Nelly  !  you  needn't  laugh ;  for  I've  just  crammed  Kenneth 
head  downmost,  in  the  Blackhorse  marsh ;  and  two  is  the  same 
as  one — and  I  want  to  kill  some  of  you  ;  I  shall  have  no  rest 
till  I  do !" 

"  But  I  don't  like  the  carving  knife,  Mr.  Hindley,"  I  an- 
swered ;  M  it  has  been  cutting  red  herrings — I'd  rather  be  shot 
if  you  please." 

"  You'd  rather  be  damned !"  he  said,  "  and  so  you  shall.  No 
law  in  England  can  hinder  a  man  from  keeping  his  house 
decent,  and  mine's  abominable  !  open  your  mouth." 

He  held  the  knife  in  his  hand,  and  pushed  its  point  between 
my  teeth :  but,  for  my  part,  I  was  never  much  afraid  of  his 
vagaries.  I  spat  out,  and  affirmed  it  tasted  detestably — "  I  would 
not  take  it  on  any  account." 

"  Oh !"  said  he,  releasing  me,  "  I  see  that  hideous  little  villain 
is  not  Hareton — I  beg  your  pardon,  Nell — if  it  be,  he  deserves 
flaying  alive  for  not  running  to  welcome  me,  and  for  screaming 
as  if  I  were  a  goblin.  Unnatural  cub,  come  hither !  I'll  teach 
thee  to  impose  on  a  good-hearted,  deluded  father.  Now  don't 
you  think  the  lad  would  be  handsomer  cropped  ]  It  makes  a 
dog  fiercer,  and  I  love  something  fierce.  Get  me  a  pair  of 
scissors — something  fierce  and  trim  !  Besides,  it's  infernal 
affectation — devilish  conceit,  it  is  to  cherish  our  ears — we're 
asses  enough  without  them.  Hush,  child,  hush  !  well  then,  it  is 
my  darling !  wisht,  dry  thy  eyes — there's  a  joy ;  kiss  me !  What ! 
it  won't  !  Kiss  me,  Hareton  !  Damn  thee,  kiss  me  !  By  God, 
as  if  I  would  rear  such  a  monster !  As  sure  as  I'm  living,  I'll 
break  the  brat's  neck." 

Poor  Hareton  was  squalling  and  kicking  in  his  father's  arms 
with  all  his  might;  and  redoubled  his  yells  when  he  carried 
him  up-stairs  and  lifted  him  over  the  bannister.  I  cried  out 
that  he  would  frighten  the  child  into  fits,  and  ran  to  rescue  him. 

As  I  reached  them,  Hindley  leaned  forward  on  the  rails  to 
listen  to  a  noise  below;  almost  forgetting  what  he  had  in  his  hands. 

"  Who  is  that  I"  he  asked,  hearing  some  one  approaching  the 
stair's  foot. 

I  leaned  forward,  also,  for  the  purpose  of  signing  to  Heath- 
cliff,  whose  step  I  recognized,  not  to  come  further ;  and,  at  the 
instant  when  my  eye  quitted  Hareton,  he  gave  a  sudden  spring, 
delivered  himself  from  the  careless  grasp  that  held  him,  and  fell. 


66  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

There  was  scarcely  time  to  experience  a  thrill  of  horror 
before  we  saw  that  the  little  wretch  was  safe.  Heathcliff  arrived 
underneath  just  at  the  critical  moment ;  by  a  natural  impulse  he 
arrested  his  descent,  and  setting  him  on  his  feet,  looked  up  to 
discover  the  author  of  the  accident. 

A  miser  who  has  parted  with  a  lucky  lottery  ticket  for  five 
shillings,  and  finds  next  day  he  has  lost  in  the  bargain  five 
thousand  pounds,  could  not  show  a  blanker  countenance  than 
he  did  on  beholding  the  figure  of  Mr.  Earnshaw  above.  It 
expressed,  plainer  than  words  could  do,  the  intensest  anguish 
at  having  made  himself  the  instrument  of  thwarting  his  own 
revenge.  Had  it  been  dark  I  dare  say  he  would  have  tried  to 
remedy  the  mistake  by  smashing  Hareton's  skull  on  the  steps ; 
but  we  witnessed  his  salvation;  and  I  was  presently  below, 
with  my  precious  charge  pressed  to  my  heart. 

Hindley  descended  more  leisurely,  sobered  and  abashed. 

"  It  is  your  fault,  Ellen,"  he  said,  "  you  should  have  kept  him 
out  of  sight ;  you  should  have  taken  him  from  me !  Is  he 
injured  any  where  V 

"Injured!"  I  cried,  angrily,  "  If  he's  not  killed  he'll  be  an 
idiot !  Oh  !  I  wonder  his  mother  does  not  rise  from  her  grave 
to  see  how  you  use  him.  You're  worse  than  a  heathen — treat- 
ing your  own  flesh  and  blood  in  that  manner!" 

He  attempted  to  touch  the  child,  who  on  finding  himself  with 
me,  sobbed  off  his  terror  directly.  At  the  first  finger  his  father 
laid  on  him,  however,  he  shrieked  again  louder  than  before,  and 
struggled  as  if  he  would  go  into  convulsions. 

"  You  shall  not  meddle  with  him  !"  I  continued,  "  He  hates 
you — they  all  hate  you — that's  the  truth  !  A  happy  family  you 
have  ;  and  a  pretty  state  you're  come  to  !" 

"  I  shall  come  to  a  prettier,  yet !  Nelly,"  laughed  the  mis- 
guided man,  recovering  his  hardness.  "  At  present,  convey 
yourself  and  him  away. — And,  hark  you,  Heathcliff !  clear  you 
too,  quite  from  my  reach  and  hearing... I  wouldn't  murder  you 
to-night,  unless,  perhaps,  I  set  the  house  on  fire ;  but  that's  as 
my  fancy  goes — " 

While  saying  this  he  took  a  pint  bottle  of  brandy  from  the 
dresser,  and  poured  some  into  a  tumbler. 

"  Nay  don't !"  I  entreated,  "  Mr.  Hindley,  do  take  warning. 
Have  mercy  on  this  unfortunate  boy,  if  you  care  nothing  for 
yourself!" 

"Any  one  will  do  better  for  him  than  I  shall,"  he  answered. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  6? 

"Have  mercy  on  your  own  soul!"  I  said,  endeavoring  to 
snatch  the  glass  from  his  hand. 

"  Not  I !  on  the  contrary,  I  shall  have  great  pleasure  in 
sending  it  to  perdition,  to  punish  its  Maker,"  exclaimed  the 
blasphemer,  "  Here's  to  its  hearty  damnation  !" 

He  drank  the  spirits,  and  impatiently  bade  us  go ;  termina- 
ting his  command  with  a  sequel  of  horrid  imprecations,  too  bad 
to  repeat  or  remember. 

"  It's  a  pity  he  can  not  kill  himself  with  drink,"  observed 
Heath  cliff,  muttering  an  echo  of  curses  back,  when  the  door 
was  shut.  "  He's  doing  his  very  utmost ;  but  his  constitution 
defies  him. — Mr.  Kenneth  says  he  would  wager  his  mare  that 
he'll  outlive  any  man  on  this  side  Gimmerton,  and  go  to  the 
grave  a  hoary  sinner ;  unless  some  happy  chance,  out  of  the 
common  course,  befall  him." 

I  went  into  the  kitchen,  and  sat  down  to  lull  my  little  lamb 
to  sleep.  Heathcliff,  as  I  thought,  walked  through  to  the  barn. 
It  turned  out  afterward  that  he  only  got  as  far  as  the  other  side 
of  the  settle,  when  he  flung  himself  on  a  bench  by  the  wall, 
removed  from  the  fire,  and  remained  silent. 

I  was  rocking  Hareton  on  my  knee,  and  humming  a  song 
that  began, 

"  It  was  far  in  the  night,  and  the  bairnies  grat, 
The  mither  beneath  the  mools  heard  that," 

when  Miss  Cathy,  who  had  listened  to  the  hubbub  from  her 
room,  put  her  head  in,  and  whispered, 

"  Are  you  alone,  Nelly  V 

"Yes,  Miss,"  I  replied. 

She  entered  and  approached  the  hearth.  I,  supposing  she 
was  going  to  say  something,  looked  up.  The  expression  of  her 
face  seemed  disturbed  and  anxious.  Her  lips  were  half  asunder, 
as  if  she  meant  to  speak;  and  she  drew  a  breath,  but  it  escaped 
in  a  sigh  instead  of  a  sentence. 

I  resumed  my  song:  not  having  forgotten  her  recent  be- 
havior. 

"  Where's  Heathcliff]"  she  said,  interrupting  me. 

"  About  his  work  in  the  stable,"  was  my  answer. 

He  did  not  contradict  me ;  perhaps,  he  had  fallen  into  a  doze. 

There  followed  another  long  pause,  during  which  I  per- 
ceived a  drop  or  two  trickle  from  Catherine's  cheek  to  the 


68  WUTHERINC      HEIGHTS. 

"  Is  she  sorry  for  her  shameful  conduct  '?"  I  asked  myself. 
"  That  will  be  a  novelty,  but,  she  may  come  to  the  point  as  she 
will— I  shan't  help  her  !" 

No,  she  felt  small  trouble  regarding  any  subject  save  her 
own  concerns. 

"  Oh,  dear  !"  she  cried  at  last.     "  I  am  very  unhappy  !" 

"  A  pity,"  observed  I,  "  you're  hard  to  please — so  many 
friends  and  so  few  cares,  and  can't  make  yourself  content!" 

"  Nelly,  will  you  keep  a  secret  for  me  1"  she  pursued,  kneel- 
ing down  by  me  and  lifting  her  winsome  eyes  to  my  face  with 
that  sort  of  look  which  turns  off  bad  temper,  even  when  one  has 
all  the  right  in  the  world  to  indulge  it. 

"  Is  it  worth  keeping  f9-  I  inquired  less  sulkily. 

"  Yes,  and  it  worries  me,  and  I  must  let  it  out !  I  want  to 
know  what  I  should  do.  To-day  Edgar  Linton  has  asked  me 
to  marry  him,  and  I've  given  him  an  answer.  Now,  before  I 
tell  you  whether  it  was  a  consent  or  denial,  you  tell  me  which 
it  ought  to  have  been." 

"Really,  Miss  Catherine,  how  can  I  know]"  I  replied. 
"  To  be  sure,  considering  the  exhibition  you  performed  in  his 
presence  this  afternoon,  I  might  say  it  would  be  wise  to  refuse 
him ;  since,  if  he  asked  you  after  that,  he  must  either  be  hope- 
lessly stupid,  or  a  venturesome  fool." 

"  If  you  talk  so,  I  won't  tell  you  any  more,"  she  returned 
peevishly,  rising  to  her  feet ;  "  I  accepted  him,  Nelly;  be  quick, 
and  say  whether  I  was  wrong!" 

"  You  accepted  him  %  then  what  good  is  it  discussing  the 
matter  ]     You  have  pledged  your  word,  and  can  not  retract." 

"  But  say  whether  I  should  have  done  so — do !"  she  ex- 
claimed in  an  irritated  tone ;  chafing  her  hands  together  and 
frowning. 

"  There  are  many  things  to  be  considered  before  that  ques- 
tion can  be  answered  properly,"  I  said  sententiously ;  "first 
and  foremost,  do  you  love  Mr.  Edgar  V* 

"  Who  can  help  it  1  of  course  I  do,"  she  answered. 

Then  I  put  her  through  the  following  catechism;  for  a  girl, 
of  twenty-two  it  was  not  injudicious. 

"Why  do  you  love  him,  Miss  Cathy]" 

"  Nonsense,  I  do — that's  sufficient." 

"  By  no  means  ;  you  must  say  why  ]" 

"  Well,  because  he  is  handsome,  and  pleasant  to  be  with." 

"  Bad,"  was  my  commentary. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  69 

"  And  because  he  is  young  and  cheerful." 

"  Bad,  still." 

"  And  because  he  loves  me." 

"Indifferent;  coming  there." 

"  And  he  will  be  rich,  and  I  shall  like  to  be  the  greatest  woman 
of  the  neighborhood,  and  I  shall  be  proud  of  having  such  a 
husband." 

"  Worst  of  all.     And,  now,  say  how  you  love  him  V* 

"  As  every  body  loves.  •  You're  silly,  Nelly." 

"  Not  at  all.     Answer." 

"  I  love  the  ground  under  his  feet,  and  the  air  over  his  head, 
and  every  thing  he  touches,  and  every  word  he  says ;  I  love  all 
his  looks,  and  all  his  actions,  and  him  entirely,  and  altogether. 
There  now!" 

"  And  why  f 

"  Nay — you  are  making  a  jest  of  it ;  it  is  exceedingly  ill- 
natured  !  It's  no  jest  to  me !"  said  the  young  lady,  scowling 
and  turning  her  face  to  the  fire. 

"  I'm  very  far  from  jesting,  Miss  Catherine,"  I  replied.  "  You 
love  Mr.  Edgar  because  he  is  handsome,  and  young,  and  cheer- 
ful, and  rich,  and  loves  you.  The  last,  however,  goes  for  nothing. 
— You  would  love  him  without  that,  probably,  and  with  it  you 
wouldn't,  unless  he  possessed  the  four  former  attractions." 

"  No,  to  be  sure  not — I  should  only  pity  him— hate  him,  per- 
haps, if  he  were  ugly  and  a  clown." 

"  But  there  are  several  other  handsome,  rich  young  men  in 
the  world ;  handsomer,  possibly,  and  richer  than  he  is.  What 
should  hinder  you  from  loving  them  V 

"If  there  be  any,  they  are  out  of  my  way — I've  seen  none 
like  Edgar." 

"  You  may  see  some  ;  and  he  won't  always  be  handsome, 
and  young,  and  may  not  always  be  rich." 

"  He  is  now ;  and  I  have  only  to  do  with  the  present.  I 
wish  you  would  speak  rationally." 

"  Well,  that  settles  it.  If  you  have  only  to  do  with  the  present, 
marry  Mr.  Linton." 

"  I  don't  want  your  permission  for  that — I  shall  many  him ; 
and  yet,  you  have  not  told  me  whether  I'm  right." 

"  Perfectly  right ;  if  people  be  right  to  marry  only  for  the 
present.  And  now  let  us  hear  what  you  are  unhappy  about. 
Your  brother  will  be  pleased  ;  the  old  lady  and  gentleman  will 
not  object,  I  think ;  you  will  escape  from  a  disorderly,  comfort- 


70  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

less  home,  into  a  wealthy,  respectable  one  ;  and  you  love  Edgar, 
and  Edgar  loves  you.  All  seems  smooth  and  easy — where  is 
the  obstacle  V 

"Here!  and  here!"  replied  Catherine,  striking  one  hand  on 
her  forehead  and  the  other  on  her  breast.  "  In  whichever  place 
the  soul  lives — in  my  soul  and  in  my  heart,  I'm  convinced  I'm 
wrong !" 

"  That's  very  strange  !  I  can  not  make  it  out." 

"  It's  my  secret ;  but  if  you  will  not  mock  at  me,  I'll  explain 
it;  I  can't  do  it  distinctly — but  I'll  give  you  a  feeling  of  how  I 
feel." 

She  seated  herself  by  me  again  :  her  countenance  grew  sadder 
and  graver,  and  her  clasped  hands  trembled. 

"  Nelly,  do  you  never  dream  queer  dreams  V  she  said  sud- 
denly, after  some  minutes'  reflection. 

"  Yes,  now  and  then,"  I  answered. 

"  And  so  do  I.  I've  dreamed  in  my  life  dreams  that  have 
staid  with  me  ever  after,  and  changed  my  ideas ;  they've  gone 
through  and  through  me,  like  wine  through  water,  and  altered 
the  color  of  my  mind.  And  this  is  one — I'm  going  to  tell  it — 
but  take  care  not  to  smile  at  any  part  of  it." 

"  Oh !  don't,  Miss  Catherine !"  1  cried.  "  We're  dismal 
enough  without  conjuring  up  ghosts  and  visions  to  perplex  us. 
Come,  come,  be  merry,  and  like  yourself!  Look  at  little  Hare- 
ton — he's  dreaming  nothing  dreary.  How  sweetly  he  smiles  in 
his  sleep !" 

"  Yes ;  and  how  sweetly  his  father  curses  in  his  solitude  ! 
You  remember  him,  I  dare  say,  when  he  was  just  such  another 
as  that  chubby  thing — nearly  as  young  and  innocent.  How- 
ever, Nelly,  I  shall  oblige  you  to  listen — it's  not  long ;  and  I've 
no  power  to  be  merry  to-night." 

"  I  won't  hear  it,  I  won't  hear  it!"  I  repeated,  hastily. 

I  was  superstitious  about  dreams  then,  and  am  still;  and 
Catherine  had  an  unusual  gloom  in  her  aspect,  that  made  me 
dread  something  from  which  I  might  shape  a  prophecy,  and 
foresee  a  fearful  catastrophe. 

She  was  vexed,  but  she  did  not  proceed.  Apparently  taking 
up  another  subject,  she  re-commenced  in  a  short  time. 

"  If  I  were  in  heaven,  Nelly,  I  should  be  extremely  miserable." 

"  Because  you  are  not  fit  to  go  there,"  I  answered.  "  All 
sinners  would  be  miserable  in  heaven." 

"But  it  is  not  for  that.    I  dreamed,  once,  that  I  was  there." 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  71 

"  I  tell  you  I  won't  hearken  to  your  dreams,  Miss  Catherine  ! 
I'll  go  to  bed,"  I  interrupted  again. 

She  laughed,  and  held  me  down,  for  I  made  a  motion  to 
leave  my  chair. 

"  This  is  nothing,"  cried  she ;  "  I  was  only  going  to  say  that 
heaven  did  not  seem  to  be  my  home ;  and  I  broke  my  heart 
with  weeping  to  come  back  to  earth  ;  and  the  angels  were  so 
angry  that  they  flung  me  out  into  the  middle  of  the  heath  on 
the  top  of  Wuthering  Heights ;  where  I  woke  sobbing  for  joy. 
That  will  do  to  explain  my  secret,  as  well  as  the  other.  I've 
no  more  business  to  marry  Edgar  Linton  than  I  have  to  be  in 
heaven  ;  and  if  the  wicked  man  in  there  had  not  brought  Heath- 
cliff so  low  I  shouldn't  have  thought  of  it.  It  would  degrade 
me  to  marry  HeathclifF  now ;  so  he  shall  never  know  how  I 
love  him ;  and  that  not  because  he's  handsome,  Nelly,  but  be- 
cause he's  more  myself  than  I  am.  Whatever  our  souls  are 
made  of,  his  and  mine  are  the  same ;  and  Linton's  is  as  different 
as  a  moonbeam  from  lightning,  or  frost  from  fire." 

Ere  this  speech  ended  I  became  sensible  of  Heathcliff's  pres- 
ence. Having  noticed  a  slight  movement,  I  turned  my  head, 
and  saw  him  rise  from  the  bench,  and  steal  out  noiselessly.  He 
had  listened  till  he  heard  Catherine  say  it  would  degrade  her 
to  marry  him,  and  then  he  staid  to  hear  no  farther. 

My  companion,  sitting  on  the  ground,  was  prevented  by  the 
back  of  the  settle  from  remarking  his  presence  or  departure ; 
but  I  started,  and  bade  her  hush. 

"  Why  %"  she  asked,  gazing  nervously  round. 

"  Joseph  is  here,"  I  answered,  catching  opportunely  the  roll 
of  his  cartwheels  up  the  road ;  "  and  Heathcliff  will  come  in 
with  him.  I'm  not  sure  whether  he  were  not  at  the  door  this 
moment." 

"  Oh,  he  couldn't  overhear  me  at  the  door  !"  said  she.  "Give 
me  Hareton  while  you  get  the  supper,  and  when  it  is  ready  ask 
me  to  sup  with  you.  I  want  to  cheat  my  uncomfortable  con- 
science, and  be  convinced  that  Heathcliff  has  no  notion  of  these 
things — he  has  not,  has  he  1  He  does  not  know  what  being  in 
love  is1?" 

"  I  see  no  reason  that  he  should  not  know  as  well  as  you,"  I 
returned  ;  "  and  if  you  are  his  choice,  he'll  be  the  most  unfor- 
tunate creature  that  ever  was  born  !  As  soon  as  you  become 
Mrs.  Iiinton,  he  loses  friend,  and  love,  and  all  !  Have  you 
considered    how   you'll    bear  the    separation,   and   how  he'll 


72  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 


bear  to  be  quite  deserted  in  the  world  1  Because,  Miss  Cath- 
arine  " 

"  He  quite  deserted  !  we  separated  !"  she  exclaimed,  with  an 
accent  of  indignation.  "  Who  is  to  sepai*ate  us,  pray  1  They'll 
meet  the  fate  of  Milo  !  Not  as  long  as  I  live,  Ellen — for  no 
mortal  creature.  Every  Linton  on  the  face  of  the  earth  might 
meJt  into  nothing,  before  I  could  consent  to  forsake  Heathcliff. 
Oh„  that's  not  what  I  intend— that's  not  what  I  mean  !  I 
shouldn't  be  Mrs.  Linton  were  such  a  price  demanded  !  He'll 
be  as  much  to  me  as  he  has  been  all  his  lifetime.  Edgar  must 
shake  off  his  antipathy,  and  tolerate  him,  at  least.  He  will, 
when  he  learns  my  true  feelings  toward  him.  Nelly,  I  see  now, 
you  think  me  a  selfish  wretch,  but  did  it  never  strike  you  that  if 
I/eathcliff  and  I  married  we  should  be  beggars'?  whereas,  if  I 
ly.arry  Linton  I  can  aid  Heathcliff  to  rise,  and  place  him  out  of 
r/ty  brother's  power." 

"  With  your  husband's  money,  Miss  Catherine  V*  I  asked. 
'"  You'll  find  him  not  so  pliable  as  you  calculate  upon;  and, 
^ough  I'm  hardly  a  judge,  I  think  that's  the  worst  motive 
ou've  given  yet  for  being  the  wife  of  young  Linton." 

"  It  is  not,"  retorted  she,  "  it  is  the  best !  The  others  were 
the  satisfaction  of  my  whims  ;  and  for  Edgar's  sake,  too,  to 
satisfy  him.  This  is  for  the  sake  of  one  who  comprehends  in 
his  person  my  feelings  to  Edgar  and  myself.  I  can  not  express 
it ;  but  surely  you  and  every  body  have  a  notion  that  there  is, 
or  should  be,  an  existence  of  yours  beyond  you.  What  were 
the  use  of  my  creation  if  I  were  entirely  contained  here  %  My 
great  miseries  in  this  world  have  been  Heath  cliff's  miseries, 
and  I  watched  and  felt  each  from  the  beginning ;  my  great 
thought  in  living  is  himself.  If  all  else  perished,  and  Tie  re- 
mained, I  should  still  continue  to  be;  and,  if  all  else  remained, 
and  he  were  annihilated,  the  universe  would  turn  to  a  mighty 
stranger.  I  should  not  seem  a  part  of  it.  My  love  for  Linton 
is  like  the  foliage  in  the  woods  :  time  will  change  it,  I'm  well 
aware,  as  winter  changes  the  trees.  My  love  for  Heathcliff 
resembles  the  eternal  rocks  beneath  :  a  source  of  little  visible 
delight,  but  necessary.  Nelly,  I  am  Heathcliff — he's  always, 
always  in  my  mind—not  as  a  pleasure,  any  more  than  I  am  al- 
ways a  pleasure  to  myself— but  as  my  own  being ;  so  don't  talk 
of  our  separation  again — it  is  impracticable  ;  and — " 

She  paused,  and  hid  her  face  in  the  folds  of  my  gown ;  but  I 
jerked  it  forcibly  away.     I  was  out  of  patience  with  her  folly. 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  73 

**  If  I  can  make  any  sense  of  your  nonsense,  miss,"  I  said. 
**  it  only  goes  to  convince  me  that  you  are  ignorant  of  the  duties 
*you  undertake  in  marrying,  or  else  that  you  are  a  wicked,  un- 
principled girl.     But  trouble  me  with  no  more  secrets ;  I'll  not 
promise  to  keep  them." 

"  You'll  keep  that  V1  she  asked,  eagerly, 

"  No,  I'll  not  promise,"  I  repeated. 

She  was  about  to  insist,  when  the  entrance  of  Joseph  finished 
our  conversation }  and  Catherine  removed  her  seat  to  a  corner, 
and  nursed  Hare  ton,  while  I  made  the  6upper. 

After  it  was  cooked,  my  fellow-servant  and  I  began  to  quar- 
rel who  should  carry  some  to  Mr.  Hindley ;  and  we  didn't  settle 
it  till  all  was  nearly  cold.  Then  we  came  to  the  agreement  that 
we  would  let  him  ask,  if  he  wanted  any,  for  we  feared  particu- 
larly to  go  into  his  presence  when  he  had  been  some  time  alone. 

"Und  hah  isn't  that  nowt  corned  in  frough  th'  field,  be  this 
time  ]  What  is  he  abaht  1  girt  eedle  seeght  V*  demanded  the 
old  man,  looking  round  for  Heathcliff. 

"  I'll  call  him,"  I  replied.    "  He's  in  the  barn,  I've  no  doubt." 

I  went  and  called,  but  got  no  answer.  On  returning, 
I  whispered  to  Catherine  that  he  had  heard  a  good  part  of 
what  she  said,  I  was  sure ;  and  told  how  I  saw  him  quit  the 
kitchen  just  as  she  complained  of  her  brother's  conduct  regard- 
ing him. 

She  jumped  up  in  a  fine  fright — flung  Hareton  upon  the  set- 
tle, and  ran  to  seek  for  her  friend  herself;  not  taking  leisure  to 
consider  why  she  was  so  flurried,  or  how  her  talk  would  have 
affected  him. 

She  was  absent  such  a  while  that  Joseph  proposed  we  should 
wait  no  longer.  He  cunningly  conjectured  they  were  staying 
away  in  order  to  avoid  hearing  his  protracted  blessing.  They 
were  "  ill  eneugh  for  ony  fahl  manners,"  he  affirmed.  And,  on 
their  behalf,  he  added  that  night  a  special  prayer  to  the  usual 
quarter  of  an  hour's  supplication  before  meat ;  and  would  have 
tacked  another  to  the  end  of  the  grace,  had  not  his  young  mis- 
tress broken  in  upon  him  with  a  hurried  command  that  he  must 
run  down  the  road,  and  wherever  Heathcliff  had  rambled,  find 
and  make  him  re-enter  directly  ! 

"  I  want  to  speak  to  him,  and  I  must  before  I  go  up-stairs,' 
she  said.  "  And  the  gate  is  open,  he  is  somewhere  out  of  hear- 
ing ;  for  he  would  not  reply,  though  I  shouted  at  the  top  of  the 
fold  as  loud  as  I  could." 

D 


74  WUTHEKING      HEIGHTS. 

Joseph  objected  at  first ;  she  was  too  much  in  earnest,  how- 
ever, to  suffer  contradiction ;  and  at  last  he  placed  his  hat  on 
his  head,  and  walked  grumbling  forth. 

Meantime  Catherine  paced  up  and  down  the  floor,  exclaim- 
ing— 

"  I  wonder  where  he  is — I  wonder  where  he  can  be !  What 
did  I  say,  Nelly  %  I've  forgotten.  Was  he  vexed  at  my  bad 
humor  this  afternoon  %  Dear !  tell  me  what  I've  said  to  grieve 
him'?     I  do  wish  he'd  come.     I  do  wish  he  would!" 

"  What  a  noise  for  nothing !"  I  cried,  though  rather  uneasy 
myself.  "  What  a  trifle  scares  you  !  It's  surely  no  great  cause 
of  alarm  that  Heathcliff  should  take  a  moonlight  saunter  on  the 
moors,  or  even  lie,  too  sulky  to  speak  to  us,  in  the  hay-loft.  I'll 
engage  he's  lurking  there.     See,  if  I  don't  ferret  him  out !" 

I  departed  to  renew  my  search ;  its  result  was  disappointment, 
and  Joseph's  quest  ended  in  the  same. 

"Yon  lad  gets  war  un  war!"  observed  he  on  re-entering. 
"  He's  left  th'  yate  ut  t'  full  swing,  and  Miss's  pony  has  trodden 
dahn  two  rigs  uh  corn,  un  pi  ottered  through,  raight  o'er  intuh  t' 
meadow!  Hahsomdiver,  t'  maister  'ull  play  t'  divil  to-morn, 
and  he'll  do  weel.  He's  patience  itsseln  wi'  sich  careless,  offald 
craters — patience  itsseln  he  is !  Bud  he'll  nut  be  soa  alius — 
yah's  see,  all  on  ye !  Yah  mun'n't  drive  him  aht  uf  his  heead 
fur  nowt !" 

"  Have  you  found  Heathcliff,  you  ass1?"  interrupted  Catherine. 
"  Have  you  been  looking  for  him,  as  I  ordered  ]" 

"  Aw  sud  more  likker  look  for  th'  horse,"  he  replied.  "It  'ud 
be  tuh  more  sense.  But,  aw  can  look  for  norther  horse,  nur 
man  uf  a  neeght  loike  this — as  black  as  t'  chimbley !  und  Heath- 
cliff's  noan  t'  chap  tuh  coom  ut  maw  whistle — happen  he'll  be 
less  hard  uh  hearing  wi'  ye  /" 

It  was  a  very  dark  evening  for  summer ;  the  clouds  appeared 
inclined  to  thunder,  and  I  said  we  had  better  all  sit  down ;  the 
approaching  rain  would  be  certain  to  bring  him  home  without 
further  trouble. 

However,  Catherine  would  not  be  persuaded  into  tranquillity. 
She  kept  wandering  to  and  fro,  from  the  gate  to  the  door,  in  a 
state  of  agitation  which  permitted  no  repose  :  and  at  length  took 
up  a  permanent  situation  on  one  side  of  the  wall,  near  the  road  ; 
where,  heedless  of  my  expostulations,  and  the  growling  thunder, 
and  the  great  drops  that  began  to  plash  around  her,  she  re- 
mained, calling  at  intervals,  and  then  listening,  and  then  crying 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  75 

outright.     She  beat  Hareton,  or  any  child,  at  a  good,  passionate 
fit  of  crying. 

About  midnight,  while  we  still  sat  up,  the  storm  came  rattling 
over  the  Heights  in  full  fury.  There  was  a  violent  wind  as  well 
as  thunder,  and  either  one  or  the  other  split  a  tree  off  at  the 
corner  of  the  building ;  a  huge  bough  fell  across  the  roof,  and 
knocked  down  a  portion  of  the  east  chimney-stack,  sending  a 
clatter  of  stones  and  soot  into  the  kitchen  fire. 

We  thought  a  bolt  had  fallen  in  the  middle  of  us,  and  Joseph 
swung  upon  his  knees,  beseeching  the  Lord  to  remember  the 
Patriarchs,  Noah  and  Lot;  and,  as  in  former  times,  spare  the 
righteous,  though  he  smote  the  ungodly.  I  felt  some  sentiment 
that  it  must  be  a  judgment  on  us  also.  The  Jonah,  in  my  mind, 
was  Mr.  Earnshaw,  and  I  shook  the  handle  of  his  den  that  I 
might  ascertain  if  he  were  yet  living.  He  replied  audibly 
enough,  in  a  fashion  which  made  my  companion  vociferate  more 
clamorously  than  before,  that  a  wide  distinction  might  be  drawn 
between  saints  like  himself  and  sinners  like  his  master.  But 
the  uproar  passed  away  in  twenty  minutes,  leaving  us  all  un- 
harmed, excepting  Cathy,  who  got  thoroughly  drenched  for  her 
obstinacy  in  refusing  to  take  shelter,  and  standing  bonnetless 
and  shawlless  to  catch  as  much  water  as  she  could  with  her  hair 
and  clothes. 

She  came  in,  and  lay  down  on  the  settle,  all  soaked  as  she 
was,  turning  her  face  to  the  back,  and  putting  her  hands  be- 
fore it. 

"  Well,  Miss !"  I  exclaimed,  touching  her  shoulder;  "  you  are 
not  bent  on  getting  your  death,  are  you  1  Do  you  know  what 
o'clock  it  is  1  Half-past  twelve.  Come  !  come  to  bed  ;  there's 
no  use  waiting  longer  for  that  foolish  boy — he'll  be  gone  to  Gim- 
merton,  and  he'll  stay  there  now.  He  guesses  we  shouldn't  wake 
for  him  till  this  late  hour;  at  least,  he  guesses  that  only  Mr. 
Hindley  would  be  up ;  and  he'd  rather  avoid  having  the  door 
opened  by  the  master." 

"  Nay,  nay,  he's  noan  at  Gimmerton  !"  said  Joseph.  "  Aw's 
niver  wonder,  bud  he's  at  t'  bothom  uf  a  bog-hoile.  This  visita- 
tion worn't  for  nowt,  und  aw  wod  hev  ye  tuh  look  aht,  Miss — 
yah  muh  be  t'  next.  Thank  Hivin  for  all !  All  warks  togither 
for  gooid  tuh  them  as  is  chozzen,  and  piked  aht  froo'  th'  rub- 
bidge  !  Yah  knaw  whet  t'  Scripture  ses — " 
,  And  he  began  quoting  several  texts — referring  us  to  the  chap- 
ters and  verses  where  we  might  find  them. 


76  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

I,  after  having  vainly  begged  the  willful  girl  to  rise  and  re- 
move her  wet  things,  left  him  preaching,  and  her  shivering,  and 
betook  myself  to  bed  with  little  Hareton ;  who  slept  as  fast  as 
if  every  one  had  been  sleeping  round  him. 

I  heard  Joseph  read  on  a  while  afterward;  then  I  distin- 
guished his  slow  step  on  the  ladder,  and  then  I  dropped 
asleep. 

Coming  down  somewhat  later  than  usual,  I  saw,  by  the  sun- 
beams piercing  the  chinks  of  the  shutters,  Miss  Catherine  still 
seated  near  the  fireplace.  The  house  door  was  ajar  too;  light 
entered  from  its  unclosed  windows ;  Hindley  had  come  out,  and 
stood  on  the  kitchen  hearth,  haggard  and  drowsy. 

"What  ails  you,  Cathy]"  he  was  saying  when  I  entered; 
"  you  look  as  dismal  as  a  drowned  whelp.  Why  are  you  so 
damp  and  pale,  child  V 

"  I've  been  wet,"  she  answered  reluctantly ;  "  and  I'm  cold, 
that's  all." 

"  Oh,  she  is  naughty  V  I  cried,  perceiving  the  master  to  be 
tolerably  sober;  "  She  got  steeped  in  the  shower  of  yesterday 
evening,  and  there  she  has  sat,  the  night  through,  and  I  couldn't 
prevail  on  her  to  stir." 

Mr.  Earnshaw  stared  at  us  in  surprise.  "  The  night  through," 
he  repeated.  "  What  kept  her  up  1  not  fear  of  the  thunder, 
surely  1     That  was  over,  hours  since." 

Neither  of  us  wished  to  mention  Heathcliff 's  absence,  as  long 
as  we  could  conceal  it ;  so,  I  replied,  I  didn't  know  how  she 
took  it  into  her  head  to  sit  up  ;  and  she  said  nothing. 

The  morning  was  fresh  and  cool ;  I  threw  back  the  lattice, 
and  presently  the  room  was  filled  with  sweet  scents  from  the 
garden  :  but  Catherine  called  peevishly  to  me. 

"  Ellen,  shut  the  window.  I'm  starving !"  And  her  teeth 
chattered  as  she  shrunk  closer  to  the  almost  extinguished  em- 
bers. 

"  She's  ill,"  said  Hindley,  taking  her  wrist,  "I  suppose  that's 
the  reason  she  would  not  go  to  bed.  Damn  it!  I  don't  want 
to  be  troubled  with  more  sickness  here.  What  took  her  into 
the  rain  ]" 

"  Running  after  t'lads,  as  usuald !"  croaked  Joseph,  catching 

an  opportunity,  from  our  hesitation,  to  thrust  in  his  evil  tongue. 

"  If  aw  wur  yah,  maister,  aw'd  just  slam  t'boards  i'  their 

faces  all  on  'em,  gentle  and  simple  !     Never  a  day  ut  yah're 

off,  but  yon  cat  uh  Linton  comes  sneaking  hither — and  Miss 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  77 

»  — s, 

Nelly  shoo's  a  fine  lass!  shoo  sits  watching  for  ye  i'  t'kitchen; 
and  as  yah're  in  at  one  door,  he's  aht  at  t'other.  Und,  then,, 
wer  grand  lady  goes  a  coorting  uf  hor  side !  Its  bonny  be- 
havior, lurking  amang  t'fields,  after  twelve  ut'  night,  wi  that 
fahl,  flaysome  divil  uf  a  gipsy,  Heathcliff !  They  think  aw'm 
blind;  but  aw'm  noan,  now't  ut  t'soart!  Aw  seed  young 
Linton,  boath  coming  and  going,  and  aw  seed  yah  (directing 
his  discourse  to  me).  Yah  gooid  fur  nowt,  slattenly  witch  !  nip 
up  and  bolt  intuh  th'  hahs,  t'  minute  yah  heard  t'maister's  horse 
fit  clatter  up  t'road. 

"Silence,  eavesdropper!"  cried  Catherine.  "  None  of  your 
insolence  before  me  !  Edgar  Linton  came  yesterday  by  chance, 
Hindley :  and  it  was  J  who  told  him  to  be  off:  because  I  knew 
you  would  not  like  to  have  met  him  as  you  were." 

"  You  lie,  Cathy,  no  doubt,"  answered  her  brother,  "  and 
you  are  a  confounded  simpleton !  But  never  mind  Linton  at 
present,  Tell  me,  were  you  not  with  Heathcliff  last  night? 
Speak  the  truth  now.  You  need  not  be  afraid  of  harming  him. 
Though  I  hate  him  as  much  as  ever,  he  did  me  a  good  turn  a 
short  time  ago  that  will  make  my  conscience  tender  of  break- 
ing his  neck.  To  prevent  it  I  shall  send  him  about  his  business 
this  very  morning;  and  after  he's  gone  I'd  advise  you  all  to 
look  sharp.     I  shall  only  have  the  more  humor  for  you  !" 

"  I  never  saw  Heathcliff  last  night,"  answered  Catherine,  be- 
ginning to  sob  bitterly  :  "  and  if  you  do  turn  him  out  of  doors 
I'll  go  with  him.  But  perhaps  you'll  never  have  an  opportunity 
— perhaps  he's  gone."  Here  she  burst  into  uncontrollable  grief, 
and  the  remainder  of  her  words  were  inarticulate. 

Hindley  lavished  on  her  a  torrent  of  scornful  abuse,  and  bid 
her  get  to  her  room  immediately,  or  she  shouldn't  cry  for 
nothing !  I  obliged  her  to  obey;  and  I  shall  never  forget  what  a 
scene  she  acted  when  we  reached  her  chamber.  It  terrified  me. 
I  thought  she  was  going  mad,  and  I  begged  Joseph  to  run  for 
the  doctor. 

It  proved  the  commencement  of  delirium ;  Mr.  Kenneth,  as 
soon  as  he  saw  her,  pronounced  her  dangerously  ill ;  she  had  a 
fever. 

He  bled  her,  and  he  told  me  to  let  her  live  on  whey  and  water- 
gruel;  and  take  care  she  did  not  throw  herself  down  stairs  or 
out  of  the  window;  and  then  he  left,  for  he  had  enough  to  do  in 
the  parish,  where  two  or  three  miles  was  the  ordinary  distance 
between  cottage  and  cottage. 


78  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

Though  I  can  not  say  I  made  a  gentle  nurse,  and  Joseph  and 
the  master  were  no  better;  and  though  our  patient  was  as  weari- 
some and  as  headstrong  as  a  patient  could  be,  she  weathered 
it  through. 

Old  Mrs.  Linton  paid  us  several  visits,  to  be  sure,  and  set 
things  to  rights,  and  scolded  and  ordered  us  all;  and  when 
Catherine  was  convalescent,  she  insisted  on  conveying  her  to 
Thrushcross  Grange ;  for  which  deliverance  we  were  very  grate- 
ful. But  the  poor  dame  had  reason  to  repent  of  her  kindness ; 
she  and  her  husband  took  the  fever,  and  died  within  a  few  days 
of  each  other. 

Our  young  lady  returned  to  us  saucier  and  more  passionate 
and  haughtier  than  ever.  Heathcliff  had  never  been  heard  of 
since  the  evening  of  the  thunder-storm  ;  and  one  day  I  had  the 
misfortune,  when  she  had  provoked  me  exceedingly,  to  lay  the 
blame  of  his  disappearance  on  her  (where  indeed  it  belonged, 
as  she  well  knew).  From  that  period,  for  several  months,  she 
ceased  to  hold  any  communication  with  me,  save  in  the  relation 
of  a  mere  servant.  Joseph  fell  under  a  ban  also ;  he  would 
speak  his  mind,  and  lecture  her  all  the  same  as  if  she  were  a 
little  girl ;  and  she  esteemed  herself  a  woman,  and  our  mistress  ; 
and  thought  that  her. recent  illness  gave  her  a  claim  to  be  treated 
with  consideration.  Then  the  doctor  had  said  that  she  would 
not  bear  crossing  much ;  she  ought  to  have  her  own  way ;  and 
it  was  nothing  less  than  murder,  in  her  eyes,  for  any  one  to 
presume  to  stand  up  and  contradict  her. 

From  Mr.  Earnshaw  and  his  companions  she  kept  aloof; 
and,  tutored  by  Kenneth  and  by  serious  threats  of  a  fit  that 
often  attended  her  rages,  her  brother  allowed  her  whatever  she 
pleased  to  demand,  and  generally  avoided  aggravating  her  fiery 
temper.  He  was  rather  too  indulgent  in  humoring  her  caprices  ; 
not  from  affection,  but  from  pride  ;  he  wished  earnestly  to  see 
her  bring  honor  to  the  family  by  an  alliance  with  the  Lintons ; 
and  as  long  as  she  let  him  alone,  she  might  trample  us  like 
slaves,  for  aught  he  cared  ! 

Edgar  Linton,  as  multitudes  have  been  before,  and  will  be 
after  him,  was  infatuated  ;  and  believed  himself  the  happiest 
man  alive  on  the  day  he  led  her  to  Gimmerton  chapel,  three 
years  subsequent  to  his  father's  death. 

Much  against  my  inclination,  I  was  persuaded  to  leave 
"Wuthering  Heights  and  accompany  her  here.  Little  Hareton 
was  nearly  five  years  old,  and  I  had  just  begun  to  teach  him  his 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  79 

letters.  We  made  a  sad  parting,  but  Catherine's  tears  were 
more  powerful  than  ours.  When  I  refused  to  go,  and  when 
she  found  her  entreaties  did  not  move  me,  she  went  lamenting 
to  her  husband  and  brother.  The  former  offered  me  munificent 
wages  ;  the  latter  ordered  me  to  pack  up — he  wanted  no  women 
in  the  house,  he  said,  now  that  there  was  no  mistress  ;  and  as 
to  Hareton,  the  curate  should  take  him  in  hand,  by  and  by. 
And  so  I  had  but  one  choice  left — to  do  as  I  was  ordered.  I 
told  the  master  he  got  rid  of  all  decent  people  only  to  run  to 
ruin  a  little  faster ;  I  kissed  Hareton  good  by ;  and,  since  then, 
he  has  been  a  stranger,  and  it's  very  queer  to  think  it,  but  I've 
no  doubt,  he  has  completely  forgotten  all  about  Ellen  Dean, 
and  that  he  was  ever  more  than  all  the  world  to  her,  and  she  to 
him ! — 

At  this  point  of  the  housekeeper's  story  she  chanced  to  glance 
toward  the  time-piece  over  the  chimney;  and  was  in  amaze- 
ment, on  seeing  the  minute-hand  measure  half-past  one.  She 
would  not  hear  of  staying  a  second  longer.  In  truth,  I  felt 
rather  disposed  to  defer  the  sequel  of  her  narrative,  myself :  and 
now,  that  she  is  vanished  to  her  rest,  and  I  have  meditated  for 
another  hour  or  two,  I  shall  summon  courage  to  go  also,  in 
spite  of  aching  laziness  of  head  and  limbs. 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  charming  introduction  to  a  hermit's  life !  Four  weeks' 
torture,  tossing,  and  sickness !  Oh,  these  bleak  winds,  and 
bitter,  northern  skies,  and  impassable  roads,  and  dilatory  coun- 
try surgeons  !  And,  oh,  this  dearth  of  the  human  physiognomy, 
and,  worse  than  all,  the  terrible  intimation  of  Kenneth  that  I 
need  not  expect  to  be  out  of  doors  till  spring  ! 

Mr.  Heathcliff  has  just  honored  me  with  a  call.  About  seven 
days  ago  he  sent  me  a  brace  of  grouse — the  last  of  the  season. 
Scoundrel !  He  is  not  altogether  guiltless  in  this  illness  of 
mine  ;  and  that  I  had  a  great  mind  to  tell  him.  But,  alas ! 
how  could  I  offend  a  man  who  was  charitable  enough  to  sit  at 
my  bedside  a  good  hour,  and  talk  on  some  other  subject  than 
pills  and  draughts,  blisters  and  leeches  1 


80  WUTHERING       HEIGHTS, 

This  is  quite  an  easy  interval.  I  am  to©  weak  to  read,  yet  I 
feel  as  if  I  could  enjoy  something  interesting.  Why  not  have 
up  Mrs.  Dean  to  finish  her  tale  %  I  can  recollect  its  chief  inci- 
dents, as  far  as  she  had  gone.  Yes,  I  remember  her  hero  had 
run  off,  and  never  been  heard  of  for  three  years  :  and  the 
heroine  was  married.  I'll  ring;  she'll  be  delighted  to  find  me 
capable  of  talking  cheerfully. 

Mrs.  Dean  came. 

"  It  wants  twenty  minutes,  sir,  to  taking  the  medicine,"  she 
commenced. 

"  Away,  away  with  it !"  I  replied  ;  "  I  desire  to  have — " 

"  The  doctor  says  you  must  drop  the  powders." 

"  With  all  my  heart !  Don't  interrupt  me.  Come  and  take 
your  seat  here.  Keep  your  fingers  from  that  bitter  phalanx  of 
phials.  Draw  your  knitting  out  of  your  pocket — that  will  do — 
now  continue  the  history  of  Mr.  Heathcliff,  from  where  you  left 
off,  to  the  present  day.  Did  he  finish  his  education  on  the  Con- 
tinent, and  come  back  a  gentleman  1  or  did  he  get  a  sizer's 
place  at  college  1  or  escape  to  America,  and  earn  honors  by 
drawing  blood  from  his  foster  country  ]  or  make  a  fortune  more 
promptly  on  the  English  highways  V* 

"  He  may  have  done  a  little  in  all  these  vocations,  Mr.  Lock- 
wood  ;  but  I  couldn't  give  my  word  for  any.  I  stated  before 
that  I  didn't  know  how  he  gained  his  money ;  neither  am  I 
aware  of  the  means  he  took  to  raise  his  mind  from  the  savage 
ignorance  into  which  it  was  sunk ;  but,  with  your  leave,  I'll 
proceed  in  my  own  fashion,  if  you  think  it  will  amuse,  and 
not  weary  you.     Are  you  feeling  better  this  morning  ]" 

"Much."— 

That's  good  news.  I  got  Miss  Catherine  and  myself  to 
Thrushcross  Grange  ;  and,  to  my  agreeable  disappointment,  she 
behaved  infinitely  better  than  I  dared  to  expect.  She  seemed 
almost  over  fond  of  Mr.  Linton ;  and  even  to  his  sister  she 
showed  plenty  of  affection.  They  were  both  very  attentive  to 
her  comfort,  certainly.  It  was  not  the  thorn  bending  to  the 
honeysuckles,  but  the  honeysuckles  embracing  the  thorn. 
There  were  no  mutual  concessions;  one  stood  erect,  and 
the  others  yielded  ;  and  who  can  be  ill-natured  and  bad-tem- 
pered when  they  encounter  neither  opposition  nor  indifference  1 

I  observed  that  Mr.  Edgar  had  a  deep-rooted  fear  of  ruffling 
her  humor.  He  concealed  it  from  her ;  but  if  ever  he  heard 
me  answer  sharply,  or  saw  any  other  servant  grow  cloudy  at 


WUTHERING       HEIGHTS.  81 

some  imperious  order  of  hers,  he  would  show  his  trouble  by  a 
frown  of  displeasure  that  never  darkened  on  his  own  account. 
He,  many  a  time,  spoke  sternly  to  me  about  my  pertness ;  and 
averred  that  the  stab  of  a  knife  could  not  inflict  a  worse  pang 
than  he  suffered  at  seeing  his  lady  vexed. 

Not  to  grieve  a  kind  master,  I  learned  to  be  less  touchy ;  and, 
for  the  space  of  half  a  year,  the  gunpowder  lay  as  harmless  as 
sand,  because  no  fire  came  near  to  explode  it.  Catherine  had 
seasons  of  gloom  and  silence,  now  and  then;  they  were  re- 
spected with  sympathizing  silence  by  her  husband,  who  as- 
cribed them  to  an  alteration  in  her  constitution,  produced  by 
her  perilous  illness,  as  she  was  never  subject  to  depression 
of  spirits  before.  The  return  of  sunshine  was  welcomed  by 
answering  sunshine  from  him.  I  believe  I  may  assert  that 
they  were  really  in  possession  of  deep  and  growing  happi- 
ness. 

It  ended.  Well,  we  must  be  for  ourselves  in  the  long  run ; 
the  mild  and  generous  are  only  more  justly  selfish  than  the 
domineering — and  it  ended  when  circumstances  caused  each  to 
feel  the  one's  interest  was  not  the  chief  consideration  in  the 
other's  thoughts. 

On  a  mellow  evening  in  September,  I  was  coming  from  the 
garden  with  a  heavy  basket  of  apples  which  I  had  been  gather- 
ing. It  had  got  dusk,  and  the  moon  looked  over  the  high  wall 
of  the  court,  causing  undefined  shadows  to  lurk  in  the  corners 
of  the  numerous  projecting  portions  of  the  building.  I  set  my 
burden  on  the  house  steps  by  the  kitchen  door,  and  lingered 
to  rest,  and  draw  in  a  few  more  breaths  of  the  soft,  sweet  air 
my  eyes  were  on  the  moon,  and  my  back  to  the  entrance,  when 
I  heard  a  voice  behind  me  say — 

"  Nelly,  is  that  you  V 

It  was  a  deep  voice,  and  foreign  in  tone ;  yet  there  was 
something  in  the  manner  of  pronouncing  my  name  which  made 
it  sound  familiar.  I  turned  about  to  discover  who  spoke, 
fearfully,  for  the  doors  were  shut,  and  I  had  seen  nobody  on 
approaching  the  steps. 

Something  stirred  in  the  porch ;  and  moving  nearer,  I  dis- 
tinguished a  tall  man,  dressed  in  dark  clothes,  with  dark  face 
and  hair.  He  leaned  against  the  side,  and  held  his  fingers  on 
the  latch,  as  if  intending  to  open  for  himself. 

"  Who  can  it  be  I"  I  thought.  "  Mr.  Earnshaw  I  Oh,  no  ! 
The  voice  has  no  resemblance  to  his." 


82  W.UTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  I  have  waited  here  an  hour,"  he  resumed,  while  I  contin- 
ued staring ;  "  and  the  whole  of  that  time  all  round  has  been 
as  still  as  death,  I  dared  not  enter.  You  do  not  know  me  % 
Look,  I'm  not  a  stranger  !" 

A  ray  fell  on  his  features ;  the  cheeks  were  sallow,  and  half 
covered  with  black  whiskers ;  the  brows  lowering,  the  eyes 
deep  set  and  singular.     I  remembered  the  eyes. 

"What!"  I  cried,  uncertain  whether  to  regard  him  as  a 
worldly  visitor,  and  I  raised  my  hands  in  amazement.  "What ! 
you  come  back  1     Is  it  really  you  %     Is  it  V 

"  Yes,  Heathcliff,"  he  replied,  glancing  from  me  up  to  the 
windows  which  reflected  a  score  of  glittering  moons,  but 
showed  no  lights  from  within.  "  Are  they  at  home — where  is 
she  ]  Nelly,  you  are  not  glad — you  needn't  be  so  disturbed. 
Is  she  here  %  Speak  !  I  want  to  have  one  word  with  her — 
your  mistress.  Go,  and  say  some  person  from  Gimmerton  de- 
sires to  see  her." 

"  How  will  she  take  it  ?"  I  exclaimed,  "  what  will  she  do  % 
The  surprise  bewilders  me — it  will  put  her  out  of  her  head  ! 
And  you  are  Heathcliff !  But  altered  !  Nay,  there's  no  com- 
prehending it.     Have  you  been  for  a  soldier  V 

"  Go,  and  carry  my  message,"  he  interrupted,  impatiently ; 
I'm  in  hell  till  you  do!" 

He  lifted  the  latch,  and  I  entered  ;  but  when  I  got  to  the 
parlor  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linton  were,  I  could  not  persuade 
myself  to  proceed. 

At  length,  I  resolved  on  making  an  excuse  to  ask  if  they 
would  have  the  candles  lighted,  and  I  opened  the  door. 

They  sat  together  in  a  window  whose  lattice  lay  back 
against  the  wall,  and  displayed  beyond  the  garden  trees  and 
the  wild  green  park,  the  valley  of  Gimmerton,  with  a  long  line 
of  mist  winding  nearly  to  its  top  (for  very  soon  after  you  pass 
the  chapel,  as  you  may  have  noticed,  the  slough  that  runs  from 
the  marshes  joins  a  beck  which  follows  the  bend  of  the  glen)  ; 
Wuthering  Heigh tsr  rose  above  this  silent  vapor,  but  our  old 
house  was  invisible — it  rather  dips  down  on  the  other  side. 

Both  the  room,  and  its  occupants,  and  the  scene  they  gazed 
on,  looked  wondrously  peaceful.  I  shrank  reluctantly  from 
performing  my  errand ;  and  was  actually  going  away,  leaving  it 
unsaid,  after  having  put  my  question  about  the  candles,  when  a 
sense  of  my  folly  compelled  me  to  return,  and  mutter, 

"  A  person  from  Gimmerton  wishes  to  see  you,  ma'am." 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  83 

"  What  does  he  want  1  asked  Mrs.  Linton. 

"  I  did  not  question  him,"  I  answered. 

"  Well,  close  the  curtains,  Nelly,"  she  said,  "  and  bring  up 
tea.     I'll  be  back  again  directly." 

She  quitted  the  apartment ;  Mr.  Edgar  inquired  carelessly, 
who  it  was  1 

"  Some  one  the  mistress  does  not  expect,"  I  replied.  "  That 
Heathcliff,  you  recollect  him,  sir,  who  used  to  live  at  Mr.  Earn- 
shaw's." 

"  What,  the  gipsy — the  plough-boy  V  he  cried.  "Why  did 
you  not  say  so  to  Catherine  %" 

"  Hush !  you  must  not  call  him  by  those  names,  master,"  I 
said.  "  She'd  be  sadly  grieved  to  hear  you.  She  was  nearly 
heart-broken  when  he  ran  off;  I  guess  his  return  will  make  a 
jubilee  to  her." 

Mr.  Linton  walked  to  a  window  on  the  other  side  of  the 
room  that  overlooked  the  court.  He  unfastened  it,  and  leaned 
out.     I  suppose  they  were  below,  for  he  exclaimed  quickly, 

"  Don't  stand  there,  love !  Bring  the  person  in,  if  it  be  any 
one  particular." 

Ere  long,  I  heard  the  click  of  the  latch,  and  Catherine  flew 
up-stairs,  breathless  and  wild,  too  excited  to  show  gladness  ; 
indeed,  by  her  face,  you  would  rather  have  surmised  an  awful 
calamity. 

"  Oh,  Edgar,  Edgar !"  she  panted,  flinging  her  arms  around 
his  neck.  "  Oh,  Edgar,  darling  !  Heathcliff 's  come  back — he 
is !"     And  she  tightened  her  embrace  to  a  squeeze. 

"  Well,  well,"  cried  her  husband,  crossly,  "  don't  strangle 
me  for  that !  He  never  struck  me  as  such  a  marvelous  trea- 
sure.    There  is  no  need  to  be  frantic  !" 

"  I  know  you  didn't  like  him,"  she  answered,  repressing  a 
little  the  intensity  of  her  delight.  "  Yet  for  my  sake,  you  must 
be  friends  now.     Shall  I  tell  him  to  come  up  1" 

"  Here,"  he  said,  "  into  the  parlor  V* 

"Where  else?'  she  asked. 

He  looked  vexed,  and  suggested  the  kitchen  as  a  more  suita- 
ble place  for  him. 

Mrs.  Linton  eyed  him  with  a  droll  expression — half  angry, 
half  laughing  at  his  fastidiousness. 

"  No,"  she  added,  after  a  while,  "  I  cannot  sit  in  the  kitchen. 
Set  two  tables  here,  Ellen,  one  for  your  master  and  Miss  Isa* 
bella,  being  gentry  ;  the  other  for  Heathcliff  and  myself,  being 


84  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

of  the  lower  orders.  Will  that  please  you  dear  ?  Or  must  I 
have  a  fire  lighted  elsewhere  ]  If  so,  give  directions.  I'll 
run  down  and  secure  my  guest.  I'm  afraid  the  joy  is  too  great 
to  be  real !" 

She  was  about  to  dart  off  again ;  but  Edgar  arrested  her. 

"  You  bid  him  step  up,"  he  said,  addressing  me,  "  and, 
Catherine,  try  to  be  glad,  without  being  absurd !  The  whole 
household  need  not  witness  the  sight  of  your  welcoming  a  run- 
away servant  as  a  brother." 

I  descended,  and  found  HeathclifF  waiting  under  the  porch, 
evidently  anticipating  an  invitation  to  enter.  He  followed  my 
guidance,  without  waste  of  words ;  and  I  ushered  him  into  the 
presence  of  the  master  and  mistress,  whose  flushed  cheeks  be- 
trayed signs  of  warm  talking.  But  the  lady's  glowed  with 
another  feeling  when  her  friend  appeared  at  the  door;  she 
sprang  forward,  took  both  his  hands,  and  led  him  to  Linton ; 
and  then  she  seized  Linton's  reluctant  fingers,  and  crushed  them 
into  his. 

Now  fully  revealed  by  the  fire  and  candlelight,  I  was  amazed 
more  than  ever,  to  behold  the  transformation  of  Heathcliff.  He 
had  grown  a  tall,  athletic,  well-formed  man  ;  beside  whom  my 
master  seemed  quite  slender  and  youthlike.  His  upright  car- 
riage suggested  the  idea  of  his  having  been  in  the  army.  His 
countenance  was  much  older  in  expression  and  decision  of  fea- 
ture than  Mr.  Linton's ;  it  looked  intelligent,  and  retained  no 
marks  of  former  degradation.  A  half-civilized  ferocity  lurked 
yet  in  the  depressed  brows,  and  eyes  full  of  black  fire,  but  it 
was  subdued ;  and  his  manner  was  even  dignified,  quite 
divested  of  roughness  though  too  stern  for  grace. 

My  master's  surprise  equaled  or  exceeded  mine ;  he  re- 
mained for  a  minute  at  a  loss  how  to  address  the  plough-boy,  as 
he  had  called  him  ;  Heathcliff  dropped  his  slight  hand,  and 
stood  looking  at  him  coolly  till  he  chose  to  speak. 

"  Sit  down,  sir,"  he  said,  at  length.  "  Mrs.  Linton,  recalling 
old  times,  would  have  me  give  you  a  cordial  reception,  and,  of 
course,  I  am  gratified  when  any  thing  occurs  to  please  her." 

"  And  I  also,"  answered  Heathcliff,  "  especially  if  it  be  any 
thing  in  which  I  have  a  part.  I  shall  stay  an  hour  or  two 
willingly." 

He  took  a  seat  opposite  Catherine,  who  kept  her  gaze  fixed 
on  him  as  if  she  feared  he  would  vanish  were  she  to  remove  it. 
He  did  not  often  raise  his  to  her ;  a  quick  glance  now  and  then 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  85 

sufficed ;  but  it  flashed  back,  each  time  more  confidently,  the 
undisguised  delight  he  drank  from  hers. 

They  were  too  much  absorbed  in  their  mutual  joy  to  suffer 
embarrassment ;  not  so  Mr.  Edgar,  he  grew  pale  with  pure  an- 
noyance, a  feeling  that  reached  its  climax  when  his  lady  rose — 
and  stepping  across  the  rug,  seized  Heathcliff 's  hands  again,  and 
laughed  like  one  beside  herself. 

"I  shall  think  it  a  dream  to-morrow!"  she  cried.  "I  shall 
not  be  able  to  believe  that  I  have  seen,  and  touched,  and  spoken 
to  you  once  more— and  yet,  cruel  Heathcliff!  you  don't  deserve 
this  welcome.  To  be  absent  and  silent  for  three  years,  and 
never  to  think  of  me  !" 

"  A  little  more  than  you  have  thought  of  me  !"  he  murmured. 
"I  heard  of  your  marriage,  Cathy,  not  long  since  ;  and,  while 
waiting  in  the  yard  below,  I  meditated  this  plan — just  to  have 
one  glimpse  of  your  face — a  stare  of  surprise,  perhaps,  and  pre- 
tended pleasure  ;  afterward  settle  my  score  with  Hindley  ;  and 
then  prevent  the  law  by  doing  execution  on  myself.  Your  wel- 
come has  put  these  ideas  out  of  my  mind  ;  but  beware  of  meet- 
ing me  with  another  aspect  next  time  !  Nay,  you'll  not  drive 
me  off  again.  You  were  really  sorry  for  me,  were  you  ]  Well, 
there  was  a  cause.  I've  fought  through  a  bitter  life  since  I  last 
heard  your  voice,  and  you  must  forgive  me,  for  I  struggled  only 
for  you!" 

"  Catherine,  unless  we  are  to  have  cold  tea,  please  to  come  to 
the  table,"  interrupted  Linton,  striving  to  preserve  his  ordinary 
tone,  and  a  due  measure  of  politeness.  "  Mr.  Heathcliff  will 
have  a  long  walk,  wherever  he  may  lodge  to-night;  and  I'm 
thirsty." 

She  took  her  post  before  the  urn  ;  and  Miss  Isabella  came, 
summoned  by  the  bell :  then,  having  handed  their  chairs  for- 
ward, I  left  the  room. 

The  meal  hardly  endured  ten  minutes.  Catherine's  cup  was 
never  filled,  she  could  neither  eat,  nor  drink.  Edgar  had  made 
a  slop  in  the  saucer,  and  scarcely  swallowed  a  mouthful. 

Their  guest  did  not  protract  his  stay,  that  evening,  above  an 
hour  longer.     I  asked,  as  he  departed,  if  he  went  to  Gimmerton  % 

"  No,  to  Wuthering  Heights,"  he  answered,  "  Mr.  Earnshaw 
invited  me  when  I  called  this  morning." 

Mr.  Earnshaw  invited  him  !  and  he  called  on  Mr.  Earnshaw! 
I  pondered  this  sentence  painfully,  after  he  was  gone.  Is  he 
turning  out  a  bit  of  a  hypocrite,  and  coming  into  the  country  to 


86  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

work  mischief  under  a  cloak  *?  I  mused — I  had  a  presentiment, 
in  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  that  he  had  better  have  remained 
away. 

About  the  middle  of  the  night,  I  was  wakened  from  my  first 
nap  by  Mrs.  Linton  gliding  into  my  chamber,  taking  a  seat  on 
my  bed-side,  and  pulling  me  by  the  hair  to  rouse  me. 

"  I  can  not  rest,  Ellen  ;"  she  said  by  way  of  apology.  "And 
I  want  some  living  creature  to  keep  me  company  in  my  happi- 
ness !  Edgar  is  sulky,  because  I'm  glad  of  a  thing  that  does 
not  interest  him.  He  refuses  to  open  his  mouth,  except  to  utter 
pettish,  silly  speeches ;  and  he  affirmed  I  was  cruel  and  selfish 
for  wishing  to  talk  when  he  was  so  sick  and  sleepy.  He  al- 
ways contrives  to  be  sick  at  the  least  cross !  I  gave  a  few  sen- 
tences of  commendation  to  Heathcliff,  and  he,  either  for  a  head- 
ache or  a  pang  of  envy,  began  to  cry ;  so  I  got  up  and  left  him." 

"  What  use  is  it  praising  Heathcliff  to  him  ?"  I  answered, 
"  As  lads  they  had  an  aversion  to  each  other,  and  Heathcliff 
would  hate  just  as  much  to  hear  him  praised — it's  human  nature. 
Let  Mr.  Linton  alone  about  him,  unless  you  would  like  an  open 
quarrel  between  them." 

"  But  does  it  not  show  great  weakness  V*  pursued  she.  "  I'm' 
not  envious — I  never  feel  hurt  at  the  brightness  of  Isabella's 
yellow  hair,  and  the  whiteness  of  her  skin ;  at  her  dainty  ele- 
gance, and  the  fondness  all  the  family  exhibit  for  her.  Even 
you,  Nelly,  if  we  have  a  dispute  sometimes,  you  back  Isabella 
at  once ;  and  I  yield,  like  a  foolish  mother.  I  call  her  a  darling, 
and  flatter  her  into  a  good  temper.  It  pleases  her  brother  to 
see  us  cordial,  and  that  pleases  me.  But  they  are  very  much 
alike.  They  are  spoiled  children,  and  fancy  the  world  was 
made  for  their  accommodation  ;  and,  though  I  humor  both,  I 
think  a  smart  chastisement  might  improve  them,  all  the  same." 

"  You're  mistaken,  Mrs.  Linton,"  said  I,  "  They  humor  you 
— I  know  what  there  would  be  to  do  if  they  did  not !  You  can 
well  afford  to  indulge  their  passing  whims,  as  long  as  their  busi- 
ness is  to  anticipate  all  your  desires.  You  may,  however,  fall 
out,  at  last,  over  something  of  equal  consequence  to  both  sides ; 
and  then  those  you  term  weak  are  very  capable  of  being  as  ob- 
stinate as  you !" 

"  And  then  we  shall  fight  to  the  death,  shan't  we,  Nelly  ?"  she- 
returned,  laughing,  "  No !  I  tell  you,  I  have  such  faith  in  Lin- 
ton's love  that  I  believe  I  might  kill  him,  and  he  wouldn't  wish 
to  retaliate." 


WUT  II  EKING      HEIGHTS.  87 

I  advised  her  to  value  him  the  more  for  his  affection. 

"  I  do,"  she  answered,  "  but  he  needn't  resort  to  whining  for 
trifles.  It  is  childish ;  and  instead  of  melting  into  tears  because 
I  said  that  Heathcliff  was  now  worthy  of  any  one's  regard,  and 
it  would  honor  the  first  gentleman  in  the  country  to  be  his  friend, 
he  ought  to  have  said  it  for  me,  and  been  delighted  from  sym- 
pathy. He  must  get  accustomed  to  him,  and  he  may  as  well 
like  him — considering  how  Heathcliff  has  reason  to  object  to 
him,  I'm  sure  he  behaved  excellently!" 

"  What  do  you  think  of  his  going  to  Wuthering  Heights  V*  I 
inquired.  "  He  is  reformed  in  every  respect,  apparently — quite 
a  Christian — offering  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  his  enemies 
all  round !" 

"  He  explained  it,"  she  replied.  "  I  wondered  as  much  as 
you.  He  said  he  called  to  gather  information  concerning  me 
from  you,  supposing  you  resided  there  still ;  and  Joseph  told 
Hindley,  who  came  out  and  fell  to  questioning  him  of  what  he 
had  been  doing,  and  how  he  had  been  living,  and  finally  desired 
him  to  walk  in.  There  were  some  persons  sitting  at  cards — 
Heathcliff  joined  them;  my  brother  lost  some  money  to  him; 
and,  finding  him  plentifully  supplied,  he  requested  that  he  would 
come  again  in  the  evening,  to  which  he  consented.  Hindley  is 
too  reckless  to  select  his  acquaintance  prudently ;  he  does'nt 
trouble  himself  to  reflect  on  the  causes  he  might  have  for  mis- 
trusting one  whom  he  has  basely  injured.  But  Heathcliff  affirms 
his  principal  reason  for  resuming  a  connection  with  his  ancient 
persecutor  is  a  wish  to  install  himself  in  quarters  at  walking  dis- 
tance from  the  Grange,  and  an  attachment  to  the  house  where 
we  lived  together ;  and,  likewise,  a  hope  that  I  shall  have  more 
opportunities  of  seeing  him  there  than  I  could  have  if  he  settled 
in  Gimmerton.  He  means  to  offer  liberal  payment  for  permis- 
sion to  lodge  at  the  Heights ;  and  doubtless  my  brother's  covet- 
ousness  will  prompt  him  to  accept  the  terms ;  he  was  always 
greedy,  though  what  he  grasps  with  one  hand,  he  flings  away 
with  the  other." 

"  It's  a  nice  place  for  a  young  man  to  fix  his  dwelling  in  !" 
said  I,  "  Have  you  no  fear  of  the  consequences,  Mrs.  Linton  V9 

"  None  for  my  friend,"  she  replied,  "  his  strong  head  will  keep 
him  from  danger :  a  little  for  Hindley ;  but  he  can't  be  made 
morally  worse  than  he  is ;  and  I  stand  between  him  and  bodily 
harm.  The  event  of  this  evening  has  reconciled  me  to  God  and 
humanity!     I  had  risen  in  angry  rebellion  against  providence. 


88  WUT'HERING      HEIGHTS. 

Oh,  I've  endured  very,  very  bitter  misery.  Nelly,  if  that  crea- 
ture knew  how  bitter,  he'd  be  ashamed  to  cloud  its  removal  with 
idle  petulance.  It  was  kindness  for  him  which  induced  me  to 
bear  it  alone :  had  I  expressed  the  agony  I  frequently  felt,  he 
would  have  been  taught  to  long  for  its  alleviation  as  ardently  as 
I.  However,  it's  over,  and  I'll  take  no  revenge  on  his  folly.  I 
can  afford  to  suffer  any  thing  hereafter !  Should  the  meanest 
thing  alive  slap  me  on  the  cheek,  I'd  not  only  turn  the  other, 
but  I'd  ask  pardon  for  provoking  it;  and,  as  a  proof,  I'll  go 
make  my  peace  with  Edgar  instantly.  Good  night — I'm  an 
angel!" 

In  this  self-complacent  conviction  she  departed ;  and  the  suc- 
cess of  her  fulfilled  resolution  was  obvious  on  the  morrow.  Mr. 
Linton  had  not  only  abjured  his  peevishness  (though  his  spirits 
seemed  still  subdued  by  the  exuberance  of  Catherine's  vivaci- 
ty), but  he  ventured  no  objection  to  her  taking  Isabella  with  her 
to  Wuthering  Heights  in  the  afternoon ;  and  she  rewarded  him 
with  such  a  summer  of  sweetness  and  affection  in  return,  as 
made  the  house  a  paradise  for  several  days ;  both  master  and 
servants  profiting  from  the  perpetual  sunshine. 

Heathcliff — Mr.  Heathcliff  I  should  say  in  future — used  the 
liberty  of  visiting  at  Thrushcross  Grange  cautiously  at  first :  he 
seemed,  estimating  how  far  its  owner  would  bear  his  intrusion. 
Catherine  also  deemed  it  judicious  to  moderate  her  expressions 
of  pleasure  in  receiving  him ;  and  he  gradually  established  his 
right  to  be  expected. 

He  retained  a  great  deal  of  the  reserve  for  which  his  boyhood 
was  remarkable,  and  that  served  to  repress  all  startling  demon- 
strations of  feeling.  My  master's  uneasiness  experienced  a  lull, 
and  further  circumstances  diverted  it  into  another  channel  for  a 
space. 

His  new  source  of  trouble  sprang  from  the  not  anticipated 
misfortune  of  Isabella  Linton  evincing  a  sudden  and  irresistible 
attraction  toward  the  tolerated  guest.  She  was  at  that  time  a 
charming  young  lady  of  eighteen ;  infantile  in  manners,  though 
possessed  of  keen  wit,  keen  feelings,  and  a  keen  temper,  too,  if 
irritated.  Her  brother,  who  loved  her  tenderly,  was  appalled 
at  this  fantastic  preference.  Leaving  aside  the  degradation  of 
an  alliance  with  a  nameless  man,  and  the  possible  fact  that  his 
property,  in  default  of  heirs  male,  might  pass  into  such  a  one's 
power,  he  had  sense  to  comprehend  Heath  cliffs  disposition — to 
know  that,  though  his  exterior  was  altered,  his  mind  was  un- 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  b9 

changeable  and  unchanged.  And  he  dreaded  that  mind  ;  it  re- 
volted him  ;  he  shrank  forebodingly  from  the  idea  of  committing 
Isabella  to  its  keeping. 

He  would  have  recoiled  still  more  had  he  been  aware  that 
her  attachment  rose  unsolicited,  and  was  bestowed  where  it 
awakened  no  reciprocation  of  sentiment ;  for  the  minute  he  dis- 
covered its  existence,  he  laid  the  blame  on  HeathclifPs  deliberate 
designing. 

We  had  all  remarked,  during  some  time,  that  Miss  Linton 
fretted  and  pined  over  something.  She  grew  cross  and  weari- 
some, snapping  at  and  teasing  Catherine  continually,  at  the  im- 
minent risk  of  exhausting  her  limited  patience.  We  excused 
her,  to  a  certain  extent,  on  the  plea  of  ill  health ;  she  was 
dwindling  and  fading  before  our  eyes.  But  one  day  when  she 
had  been  peculiarly  wayward,  rejecting  her  breakfast,  com- 
plaining that  the  servants  did  not  do  what  she  told  them ;  that 
the  mistress  would  allow  her  to  be  nothing  in  the  house,  and 
Edgar  neglected  her ;  that  she  had  caught  a  cold  with  the  doors 
being  left  open,  and  we  let  the  parlor  fire  go  out  on  purpose  to 
vex  her;  with  a  hundred  yet  more  frivolous  accusations,  Mrs. 
Linton  peremptorily  insisted  that  she  should  get  to  bed ;  and, 
having  scolded  her  heartily,  threatened  to  send  for  the 
doctor. 

Mention  of  Kenneth  caused  her  to  exclaim  instantly  that  her 
health  was  perfect,  and  it  was  only  Catherine's  harshness  which 
made  her  unhappy. 

"  How  can  you  say  I  am  harsh,  you  naughty  fondling  V  cried 
the  mistress,  amazed  at  the  unreasonable  assertion.  "  You  aro 
surely  losing  your  reason.  When  have  I  been  harsh,  tell 
me?" 

"  Yesterday,"  sobbed  Isabella,  "  and  now  !" 

"  Yesterday  !"  said  her  sister-in-law.     "  On  what  occasion  1" 

"  In  our  walk  along  the  moor ;  you  told  me  to  ramble  where 
I  pleased,  while  you  sauntered  on  with  Mr.  Heathcliff." 

"And  that's  your  notion  of  harshness]"  said  Catherine, 
laughing.  "  It  was  no  hint  that  your  company  was  superfluous  ; 
we  didn't  care  whether  you  kept  with  us  or  not;  I  merely 
thought  Heathcliff's  talk  would  have  nothing  entertaining  for 
your  ears." 

"  Oh,  no,"  wept  the  young  lady,  "  you  wished  me  away  be- 
cause you  knew  I  liked  to  be  there." 

"  Is  she  sane  ]"  asked  Mrs.  Linton,  appealing  to  me.     "  I'll 


90  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

repeat  our  conversation  word  for  word  Isabella,  and  you  point 
out  any  charm  it  could  have  had  for  you." 

"  I  don't  mind  the  conversation,"  she  answered  :  I  wanted  to 
be  with" — 

"  Well  !•"  said  Catherine,  perceiving  her  hesitate  to  complete 
the  sentence. 

"  With  him ;  and  I  won't  be  always  sent  off!"  she  continued, 
kindling  up.  "  You  are  a  dog  in  the  manger,  Cathy,  and  desire 
no  one  to  be  loved  but  yourself!" 

"  You  are  an  impertinent  little  monkey !"  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Linton,  in  surprise.  "  But  I'll  not  believe  this  idiocy  !  It  is 
impossible  that  you  can  covet  the  admiration  of  Heathcliff 
— that  you  can  consider  him  an  agreeable  person !  I  hope  I 
have  misunderstood  you,  Isabella  1" 

"  No,  you  have  not,"  said  the  infatuated  girl.  "  I  love  him 
more  than  ever  you  loved  Edgar  ;  and  he  might  love  me  if  you 
would  let  him  !" 

"  I  wouldn't  be  you  for  a  kingdom,  then !"  Catherine  de- 
clared, emphatically  —  and  she  seemed  to  speak  sincerely. 
"  Nelly,  help  me  to  convince  her  of  her  madness.  Tell  her  what 
Heathcliff  is — an  unreclaimed  creature,  without  refinement — 
without  cultivation  ;  an  arid  wilderness  of  furze  and  whinstone. 
I'd  as  soon  put  that  little  canary  into  the  park  on  a  winter's  day 
as  recommend  you  to  bestow  your  heart  on  him !  It  is  deplor- 
able ignorance  of  his  character,  child,  and  nothing  else,  which 
makes  that  dream  enter  your  head.  Pray  don't  imagine  that 
he  conceals  depths  of  benevolence  and  affection  beneath  a  stern 
exterior  !  He's  not  a  rough  diamond — a  pearl-containing  oyster 
of  a  rustic ;  he's  a  fierce,  pitiless,  wolfish  man.  I  never  say  to 
him,  Let  this  or  that  enemy  alone,  because  it  would  be  ungen- 
erous or  cruel  to  harm  them.  I  say,  Let  them  alone,  because  I 
should  hate  them  to  be  wronged :  and  he'd  crush  you,  like  a 
sparrow's  egg,  Isabella,  if  he  found  you  a  troublesome  charge. 
I  know  he  couldn't  love  a  Linton ;  and  yet,  he'd  be  quite  capa- 
ble of  marrying  your  fortune  and  expectations.  Avarice  is 
growing  with  him  a  besetting  sin.  There's  my  picture  ;  and 
I'm  his  friend — so  much  so  that  had  he  thought  seriously  to 
catch  you,  I  should,  perhaps,  have  held  my  tongue  and  let  you 
fall  into  this  trap." 

Miss  Linton  regarded  her  sister-in-law  with  indignation. 

"  For  shame  !  for  shame  !"  she  repeated,  angxily.  rt  You  are 
worse  than  twenty  foes,  you  poisonous  friend  !" 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  91 

"Ah!  you  won't  believe  me  then]"  said  Catherine.  "You 
think  I  speak  from  wicked  selfishness1?" 

"  I'm  certain  you  do,"  retorted  Isabella  ;  "  and  I  shudder  at 
you !" 

"  Good  !"  cried  the  other.  "  Try  for  yourself,  if  that  be  your 
spirit ;  I  have  done,  and  yield  the  argument  to  your  saucy  inso- 
lence." 

"And  I  must  suffer  for  her  egotism!"  she  sobbed,  as  Mrs. 
Linton  left  the  room.  "  All,  all  is  against  me  ;  she  has  blighted 
my  single  consolation.  But  she  uttered  falsehoods,  didn't  she  ] 
Mr.  Heathcliff  is  not  a  fiend ;  he  has  an  honorable  soul,  and  a 
true  one,  or  how  could  he  remember  her  V 

"  Banish  him  from  your  thoughts,  Miss,"  I  said.  "  He's  a  bird 
of  bad  omen ;  no  mate  for  you.  Mrs.  Linton  spoke  strongly, 
and  yet  I  can't  contradict  her.  She  is  better  acquainted  with 
his  heart  than  I,  or  any  one  besides ;  and  she  never  would  rep- 
resent him  as  worse  than  he  is.  Honest  people  don't  hide  their 
deeds.  How  has  he  been  living  1  how  has  he  get  rich  1  why  is 
he  staying  at  Wuthering  Heights — the  house  of  a  man  whom  he 
abhors  ]  They  say  Mr.  Earnshaw  is  worse  and  worse  since  he 
came.  They  sit  up  all  night  together  continually  :  and  Hindley 
has  been  borrowing  money  on  his  land  ;  and  does  nothing  but 
play  and  drink,  I  heard  only  a  week  ago ;  it  was  Joseph  who 
told  me — I  met  him  at  Gimmerton." 

" '  Nelly,'  he  said,  '  we's  hae  a  Crahnr's  'quest  enah,  at  ahr 
folks.  One  on  'em's  a'most  gettin  his  finger  cut  off  wi'  hauding 
t'other  froo'  sticking  hisseln  loike  a  cawlf.  That's  maister,  yah 
knaw,  ut's  soa  up  un  going  tuh  t'grand  'sizes.  He's  noan  feared 
uh  t'  Bench  uh  judges,  norther  Paul,  nur  Peter,  nur  John,  nor 
Mathew,  nor  noan  on  'em,  nut  he  !  He  fair  like's  he  langs  tuh 
set  his  brazened  face  agean  'em  !  And  yon  bonny  lad  Heath- 
cliff,  yah  mind,  he's  a  rare  un !  He  can  girn  a  laugh,  as  weel's 
onybody  at  a  raight  divil's  jest.  Does  he  niver  say  nowt  of  his 
fine  living  amang  us,  when  he  goes  tuh  t'  Grange  ]  This  is  t* 
way  on't — up  at  sun-dahn ;  dice,  brandy,  cloised  shutters,  und 
can'le  lught  till  next  day,  at  nooin — then  t'  fooil  gangs  banning 
un  raving  tuh  his  cham'er,  makking  dacent  fowks  dig  thur  fin- 
gers i'  thur  lugs  for  varry  shaume  ;  un'  th'  knave,  wah,  he  cam 
cahnt  his  brass,  un'  ate,  un'  sleep,  un'  off  tuh  his  neighbor's  tuh 
gossip  wi'  t'  wife.  I'  course,  he  tells  Dame  Catherine  hah  hor 
father's  goold  runs  intuh  his  pocket,  and  her  father's  son  gallops 
dahn  t'  broad  road,  while  he  flees  afore  tuh  oppen  t'  pikes  V 


92  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

Now,  Miss  Linton,  Joseph  is  an  old  rascal,  but  no  liar ;  and,  if 
his  account  of  Heathcliff  's  conduct  be  true,  you  would  never 
think  of  desiring  such  a  husband,  would  you  I" 

"You  are  leagued  with  the  rest,  Ellen  !"  she  replied.  "  I'll 
not  listen  to  your  slanders.  What  malevolence  you  must  have 
to  wish  to  convince  me  that  there  is  no  happiness  in  the  world  !" 
Whether  she  would  have  got  over  this  fancy  if  left  to  herself)' 
or  persevered  in  nursing  it  perpetually,  I  can  not  say ;  she  had 
little  time  to  reflect.  The  day  after  there  was  a  justice-meeting 
at  the  next  town ;  my  master  was  obliged  to  attend ;  and  Mr. 
Heathcliff,  aware  of  his  absence,  called  rather  earlier  than 
usual. 

Catherine  and  Isabella  were  sitting  in  the  library,  on  hostile 
terms,  but  silent.  The  latter  alarmed  at  her  recent  indiscre- 
tion, and  the  disclosure  she  had  made  of  her  secret  feelings  in 
a  transient  fit  of  passion ;  the  former,  on  mature  consideration, 
really  offended  with  her  companion  ;  and,  if  she  laughed  again 
at  her  pertness,  inclined  to  make  it  no  laughing  matter  to  her. 

She  did  laugh  as  she  saw  Heathcliff  pass  the  window.  I  was 
sweeping  the  hearth,  and  I  noticed  a  mischievous  smile  on  her 
lips.  Isabella,  absorbed  in  her  meditations,  or  a  book,  remained 
till  the  door  opened,  and  it  was  too  late  to  attempt  an  escape, 
which  she  would  gladly  have  done  had  it  been  practicable. 

"  Come  in,  that's  right !"  exclaimed  the  mistress,  gayly,  pull- 
ing a  chair  to  the  fire.  "  Here  are  two  people  sadly  in  need  of 
a  third  to  thaw  the  ice  between  them ;  and  you  are  the  very 
one  we  should  both  of  us  choose.  Heathcliff,  I'm  proud  to 
show  you,  at  last,  somebody  that  dotes  on  you  more  than  myself. 
I  expect  you  to  feel  nattered — nay,  it's  not  Nelly ;  don't  look  at 
her  !  My  poor  little  sister-in-law  is  breaking  her  heart  by  mere 
contemplation  of  your  physical  and  moral  beauty.  It  lies  in 
your  own  power  to  be  Edgar's  brother!  No,  no,  Isabella,  you 
shan't  run  off,"  she  continued,  arresting,  with  feigned  playful- 
ness, the  confounded  girl  who  had  risen  indignantly.  "We 
were  quarreling  like  cats  about  you,  Heathcliff;  and  I  was 
fairly  beaten  in  protestations  of  devotion  and  admiration;  and, 
moreover,  I  was  informed  that  if  I  would  but  have  the  manners 
to  stand  aside,  my  rival,  as  she  will  have  herself  to  be,  would 
shoot  a  shaft  into  your  soul  that  would  fix  you  for  ever,  and  send 
my  image  into  eternal  oblivion  !" 

"Catherine,"  said  Isabella,  calling  up  her  dignity,  and  dis- 
daining to  struggle  from  the  tight  grasp  that  held  her.     "  I'd 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  93 

thank  you  to  adhere  to  the  truth,  and  not  slander  me,  even  in 
joke  !  Mr.  Heathcliff,  be  kind  enough  to  bid  this  friend  of 
yours  release  me — she  forgets  that  you  and  I  are  not  intimate 
acquaintances,  and  what  amuses  her  is  painful  to  me  beyond 
expression." 

As  the  guest  answered  nothing,  but  took  his  seat,  and  looked 
thoroughly  indifferent  what  sentiments  she  cherished  concerning 
him,  she  turned,  and  whispered  an  earnest  appeal  for  liberty  to 
her  tormentor. 

"  By  no  means !"  cried  Mrs.  Linton  in  answer.  "  I  won't  be 
named  a  dog  in  the  manger  again.  You  shall  stay,  now  then  ! 
Heathcliff,  why  don't  you  evince  satisfaction  at  my  pleasant 
news  %  Isabella  swears  that  the  love  Edgar  has  for  me,  is 
nothing  to  that  she  entertains  for  you.  I'm  sure  she  made  some 
speech  of  the  kind,  did  she  not,  Ellen  ]  And  she  has  fasted 
ever  since  the  day  before  yesterday's  walk,  from  sorrow  and 
rage  that  I  dispatched  her  out  of  your  society,  under  the  idea 
of  its  being  unacceptable." 

"  I  think  you  belie  her,"  said  Heathcliff,  twisting  his  chair  to 
face  them.  "  She  wishes  to  be  out  of  my  society  now,  at  any 
rate!" 

And  he  stared  hard  at  the  object  of  discourse,  as  one  might 
do  at  a  strange  repulsive  animal,  a  centipede  from  the  Indies, 
for  instance,  which  curiosity  leads  one  to  examine  in  spite  of  the 
aversion  it  raises. 

The  poor  thing  couldn't  bear  that;  she  grew  white  and  red 
in  rapid  succession,  and,  while  tears  beaded  her  lashes,  bent  the 
strength  of  her  small  fingers  to  loosen  the  firm  clutch  of  Cath- 
erine, and  perceiving  that,  as  fast  as  she  raised  one  finger  off  her 
arm,  another  closed  down,  and  she  could  not  remove  the  whole 
together,  she  began  to  make  use  of  her  nails,  and  their  sharpness 
presently  ornamented  the  detainer's  with  crescents  of  red. 

"  There's  a  tigress  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Linton,  setting  her  free, 
and  shaking  her  hand  with  pain.  "  Begone,  for  God's  sake, 
and  hide  your  vixen  face !  How  foolish  to  reveal  those  talons 
to  him.  Can't  you  fancy  the  conclusions  he'll  draw  I  Look, 
Heathcliff!  they  are  instruments  that  will  do  execution — you 
must  beware  of  your  eyes." 

"  I'd.  wrench  them  off  her  fingers,  if  they  ever  menaced  me," 
he  answered,  brutally,  when  the  door  had  closed  after  her. 
"  But,  what  did  you  mean  by  teasing  the  creature  in  that  man- 
ner, Cathy  ]     You  were  not  speaking  the  truth,  were  you  V* 


94  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

"  I  assure  you  I  was,"  she  returned.  "  She  has  been  pining 
for  your  sake  several  weeks ;  and  raving  about  you  this  morn- 
ing, and  pouring  forth  a  deluge  of  abuse,  because  I  represented 
your  failings  in  a  plain  light,  for  the  purpose  of  mitigating  her 
adoration.  But  don't  notice  it  further.  1  wished  to  punish  her 
sauciness,  that's  all.  I  like  her  too  well,  my  dear  Heathcliff,  to 
let  you  absolutely  seize  and  devour  her  up." 

"  And  I  like  her  too  ill  to  attempt  it,"  said  he,  ^'except  in  a 
very  ghoulish  fashion.  You'd  hear  of  odd  things,  if  I  lived 
alone  with  that  mawkish,  waxen  face,  the  most  ordinary  would 
be  painting  on  its  white  the  colors  of  the  rainbow,  and  turning 
the  blue  eyes  black,  every  day  or  two ;  they  detestably  resemble 
Linton's." 

"  Delectably,"  observed  Catherine.  "  They  are  dove's  eyes 
— angel's  !" 

"  She's  her  brother's  heir,  is  she  not  1"  he  asked,  after  a  brief 
silence. 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  think  so,"  returned  his  companion. 
"  Half-a-dozen  nephews  shall  erase  her  title,  please  Heaven  ! 
Abstract  your  mind  from  the  subject,  at  present — you  are  too 
prone  to  covet  your  neighbor's  goods.:  remember  this  neighbor's 
goods  are  mine." 

"  If  they  were  mine,  they  would  be  none  the  less  that,"  said 
Heathcliff,  "  but  though  Isabella  Linton  may  be  silly,  she  is 
scarcely  mad;  and — in  short  we'll  dismiss  the  matter  as  you 
advise." 

From  their  tongues,  they  did  dismiss  it;  and  Catherine,  prob- 
ably, from  her  thoughts.  The  other,  I  felt  certain,  recalled  it 
often  in  the  course  of  the  evening ;  I  saw  him  smile  to  himself 
— grin  rather — and  lapse  into  ominous  musing  whenever  Mrs. 
Linton  had  occasion  to  be  absent  from  the  apartment. 

I  determined  to  watch  his  movements.  My  heart  invariably 
cleaved  to  the  master's,  in  preference  to  Catherine's  side  ;  with 
reason,  I  imagined,  for  he  was  kind,  and  trustful,  and  honora- 
ble :  and  she — she  could  not  be  called  the  opposite,  yet  she 
seemed  to  allow  herself  such  wide  latitude  that  I  had  little  faith 
in  her  principles,  and  still  less  sympathy  for  her  feelings.  I 
wanted  something  to  happen  which  might  have  the  effect  of 
freeing  both  Wuthering  Heights  and  the  Grange  of  Mr.  Heath- 
cliff, quietly,  leaving  us  as  we  had  been  prior  to  his  advent. 
His  visits  were  a  continual  nightmare  to  me ;  and,  I  suspected, 
to  my  master  also.     His  abode  at  the  Heights  was  an  oppres- 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  95 

sion  past  explaining.  I  felt  that  God  had  forsaken  the  stray 
sheep  there  to  its  own  wicked  wanderings,  and  an  evil  beast 
prowled  between  it  and  the  fold,  waiting  his  time  to  spring  and 
destroy. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Sometimes,  while  meditating  on  these  things  in  solitude, 
I  have  got  up  in  a  sudden  terror,  and  put  on  my  bonnet  to  go 
see  how  all  was  at  the  farm  ;  I  have  persuaded  my  conscience 
that  it  was  a  duty  to  warn  him  how  people  talked  regarding 
his  ways ;  and  then  I  have  recollected  his  confirmed  bad 
habits,  and  hopeless  of  benefiting  him,  have  flinched  from 
re-entering  the  dismal  house,  doubting  if  I  could  bear  to  be 
taken  at  my  word. 

One  time  I  passed  the  old  gate,  going  out  of  my  way,  on  a 
journey  to  G-immerton.  It  was  about  the  period  that  my 
narrative  has  reached — a  bright,  frosty  afternoon ;  the  ground 
bare,  and  the  road  hard  and  dry. 

I  came  to  a  stone  where  the  highway  branches  off  on  to  the 
moor  at  your  left  hand ;  a  rough  sand-pillar,  with  the  letters 
W.  H.  cut  on  its  north  side,  on  the  east  G.,  and  on  the  south- 
west T.  G.  It  serves  as  guide-post  to  the  Grange,  and  Heights, 
and  village. 

The  sun  shone  yellow  on  its  gray  head,  reminding  me  of 
summer ;  and  1  can  not  say  why,  but  all  at  once  a  gush  of  child's 
sensations  flowed  into  my  heart.  Hindley  and  I  held  it  a 
favorite  spot  twenty  years  before. 

I  gazed  long  at  the  weather-worn  block ;  and,  stooping 
down,  perceived  a  hole  near  the  bottom  still  full  of  snail-shells 
and  pebbles,  which  we  were  fond  of  storing  there  with  more 
perishable  things — and,  as  fresh  as  reality,  it  appeared  that  I 
beheld  my  early  playmate  seated  on  the  withered  turf;  his 
dark,  square  head  bent  forward,  and  his  little  hand  scooping 
out  the  earth  with  a  piece  of  slate. 

"  Poor  Hindley !"  I  exclaimed  involuntarily. 

I  started — my  bodily  eye  was  cheated  into  a  momentary 
belief  that  the   child  lifted  its  face  and  stared  straight  into 


98  WUT  BERING     HEIGHTS. 

mine  !  It  vanished  in  a  twinkling ;  but  immediately  I  felt  an 
irresistible  yearning  to  be  at  the  Heights.  Superstition  urged 
me  to  comply  with  this  impulse — supposing  he  should  be  dead! 
I  thought— or  should  die  soon  ! — supposing  it  were  a  sign  of 
death ! 

The  nearer  I  got  to  the  house  the  more  agitated  I  grew  : 
and  on  catching  sight  of  it  I  trembled  in  every  limb.  The 
apparition  had  outstripped  me  ;  it  stood  looking  through  the 
gate.  That  was  my  first  idea  on  observing  an  elf-locked, 
brown-eyed  boy  setting  his  ruddy  countenance  against  the  bars. 
Further  reflection  suggested  this  must  be  Hareton,  my  Hare- 
ton,  not  altered  greatly  since  I  left  him,  ten  months  since. 

"  God  bless  thee,  darling  !"  I  cried,  forgetting  instantaneously 
my  foolish  fears.     "  Hareton,  it's  Nelly — Nelly,  thy  nurse." 

He  retreated  out  of  arm's  length,  and  picked  up  a  large 
flint. 

"  I  am  come  to  see  thy  father,  Hareton,"  I  added,  guessing 
from  the  action  that  Nelly,  if  she  lived  in  his  memory  at  all, 
was  not  recognized  as  one  with  me. 

He  raised  his  missile  to  hurl  it ;  I  commenced  a  soothing 
speech,  but  could  not  stay  his  hand.  The  stone  struck  my  bon- 
net, and  then  ensued  from  the  stammering  lips  of  the  little  fel- 
low a  string  of  curses,  which,  whether  he  comprehended  them 
or  not,  were  delivered  with  practiced  emphasis,  and  distorted 
his  baby  features  into  a  shocking  expression  of  malignity. 

You  may  be  certain  this  grieved  more  than  angered  me. 
Fit  to  cry,  I  took  an  orange  from  my  pocket,  and  offered  it  to 
propitiate  him. 

He  hesitated,  and  then  snatched  it  from  my  hold,  as  if  he 
fancied  I  only  intended  to  tempt  and  disappoint  him. 

I  showed  another,  keeping  it  out  of  his  reach. 

"  Who  has  taught  you  those  fine  words,  my  bairn,"  I  in- 
quired.    "  The  curate  V 

"  Damn  the  curate  and  thee  !     Gie  me  that,"  he  replied. 

"  Tell  us  where  you  got  your  lessons,  and  you  shall  have  it," 
said  I.     "  Who's  your  master  1" 

"  Devil  daddy,"  was  his  answer. 

"  And  what  do  you  learn  from  daddy  V  I  continued. 

He  jumped  at  the  fruit ;  I  raised  it  higher.  "  What  does  he 
teach  you  VI  asked. 

"  Naught,"  said  he,  "  but  to  keep  out  of  his  gait.  Daddy 
can  not  bide  me,  because  I  swear  at  him." 


WUTHER'ING      HEIGHTS.  97 

"Ah!  and  the  devil  teaches  you  to  swear  at  daddy?"  I 
observed. 

"  Ay — nay,"  he  drawled. 

"  Who  then  V 

"  Heathcliff." 

I  asked  if  he  liked  Mr.  Heathcliff] 

"  Aye  !"  he  answered  again. 

Desiring  to  have  his  reasons  for  liking  him,  I  could  only 
gather  the  sentences.  "  I  known't — he  pays  dad  back  what  he 
gies  to  me — he  curses  daddy  for  cursing  me — he  says  I  mun  do 
as  I  will." 

"  And  the  curate  does  not  teach  you  to  read  and  write, 
then  V  I  pursued. 

No  ;  I  was  told  the  curate  should  have  his teeth  dashed 

down  his throat,  if  he  stepped  over  the  threshold — Heath- 
cliff  had  promised  that. 

I  put  the  orange  in  his  hand  ;  and  bade  him  tell  his  father 
that  a  woman  called  Nelly  Dean  was  waiting  to  speak  with 
him,  by  the  garden  gate. 

He  went  up  the  walk,  and  entered  the  house;  but  instead 
of  Hindley,  Heathcliff  appeared  on  the  door  stones,  and  I  turned 
directly  and  ran  down  the  road  as  hard  as  ever  I  could  race, 
making  no  halt  till  I  gained  the  guide-post,  and  feeling  as  scared 
as  if  I  had  raised  a  goblin. 

This  is  not  much  connected  with  Miss  Isabella's  affair,  except 
that  it  urged  me  to  resolve,  farther,  on  mounting  vigilant  guard 
and  doing  my  utmost  to  check  the  spread  of  such  bad  influence 
at  the  Grange,  even  though  I  should  wake  a  domestic  storm  by 
thwarting  Mrs.  Linton's  pleasure. 

The  next  time  Heathcliff  came,  my  young  lady  chanced  to  be 
feeding  some  pigeons  in  the  court.  She  had  never  spoken  a  word 
to  her  sister-in-law  for  three  days  ;  but  she  had  likewise  dropped 
her  fretful  complaining,  and  we  found  it  a  great  comfort. 

Heathcliff  had  not  the  habit  of  bestowing  a  single  unneces- 
sary civility  on  Miss  Linton,  I  knew.  Now,  as  soon  as  he  be- 
held her,  his  first  precaution  was  to  take  a  sweeping  survey  of 
the  house-front.  I  was  standing  by  the  kitchen  window,  but  I 
drew  out  of  sight.  He  then  stepped  across  the  pavement  to 
her,  and  said  something ;  she  seemed  embarrassed,  and  desirous 
of  getting  away ;  to  prevent  it,  he  laid  his  hand  on  her  arm : 
she  averted  her  face ;  he  apparently  put  some  question  which 
she  had  no  mind  to  answer.     There  was  another  rapid  glance 

E 


98  WUT  BERING     HEIGHTS. 

at  the  house,  and  supposing  himself  unseen,  the  scoundrel  had 
the  impudence  to  embrace  her. 

"  Judas  !  Traitor  !"  I  ejaculated  ;  "  you  are  a  hypocrite  too, 
are  you  ?     A  deliberate  deceiver." 

"  Who  is,  Nelly  V  said  Catherine's  voice  at  my  elbow — I  had 
been  over-intent  on  watching  the  pair  outside  to  mark  her  en- 
trance. 

"  Your  worthless  friend  !"  I  answered  warmly,  "  the  sneaking 
rascal  yonder — ah,  he  has  caught  a  glimpse  of  us — he  is  coming 
in !  I  wonder  will  he  have  the  art  to  find  a  plausible  excuse, 
for  making  love  to  Miss,  when  he  told  you  he  hated  her  V 

Mrs.  Linton  saw  Isabella  tear  herself  free,  and  run  into  the 
garden;  and  a  minute  after,  Heathcliff  opened  the  door. 

I  couldn't  withhold  giving  some  loose  to  my  indignation  ;  but 
Catherine  angrily  insisted  on  silence,  and  threatened  to  order 
me  out  of  the  kitchen,  if  I  dared  be  so  presumptuous  as  to  put 
in  my  insolent  tongue. 

"  To  hear  you,  people  might  think  you  were  the  mistress !" 
she  cried.  "  You  want  setting  down  in  your  right  place ! 
Heathcliff,  what  are  you  about,  raising  this  stir  ]  I  said  you 
must  let  Isabella  alone  !  I  beg  you  will,  unless  you  are  tired 
of  being  received  here,  and  wish  Linton  to  draw  the  bolts 
against  you  !" 

"  God  forbid  that  he  should  try !"  answered  the  black  villain 
— I  detested  him  just  then.  "  God  keep  him  meek  and  patient! 
Every  day  I  grow  madder  after  sending  him  to  heaven !" 

"Hush!"  said  Catherine  shutting  the  inner  door.  "Don't 
vex  me.  Why  have  you  disregarded  my  request]  Did  she 
come  across  you  on  purpose  V 

"  What  is  it  to  you  I"  he  growled,  I  have  a  right  to  kiss  her, 
if  she  chooses,  and  you  have  no  right  to  object — I'm  not  your 
husband  ;   you  needn't  be  jealous  of  me  !" 

"  I'm  not  jealous  of  you  ;  replied  the  mistress ;  "  I'm  jealous 
for  you.  Clear  your  face,  you  shan't  scowl  at  me  !  If  you  like 
Isabella,  you  shall  marry  her.  But,  do  you  like  her  1  Tell  the 
truth,  Heathcliff.  There,  you  won't  answer.  I'm  certain  you 
don't." 

"  And  would  Mr.  Linton  approve  of  his  sister  marrying  that 
man  !"  I  inquired. 

"Mr.  Linton  should  approve,"  returned  my  lady  decisively. 

"  He  might  spare  himself  the  trouble,"  said  Heathcliff,  "  I 
could  do  as  well  without  his  approbation ;  and,   as  to  you, 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  99 

Catherine,  I  have  a  mind  to  speak  a  few  words  now,  while  we 
are  at  it — I  want  you  to  be  aware  that  I  know  you  have  treated 
me  infernally — infernally  !  Do  you  hear  ]  And,  if  you  flatter 
yourself  that  I  don't  perceive  it  you  are  a  fool — and  if  you  think 
I  can  be  consoled  by  sweet  words  you  are  an  idiot — and  if  you 
fancy  I'll  suffei  unrevenged,  I'll  convince  you  of  the  contrary  in 
a  very  little  while  !  Meantime,  thank  you  for  telling  me  your 
sister-in-law's  secret.  I  swear  I'll  make  the  most  of  it,  and 
stand  you  aside  !" 

"  What  new  phase  of  his  character  is  this  V  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Linton,  in  amazement.  "  I've  treated  you  infernally — and 
you'll  take  revenge  !  How  will  you  take  it,  ungrateful  brute  1 
How  have  I  treated  you  infernally  f * 

"  I  seek  no  revenge  on  you,"  replied  Heath  cliff  less  vehement- 
ly. "  That's  not  the  plan.  The  tyrant  grinds  down  his  slaves 
and  they  don't  turn  against  him,  they  crush  those  beneath  them. 
You  are  weleome  to  torture  me  to  death  for  your  amusement; 
only  allow  me  to  amuse  myself  a  little  in  the  same  style.  And 
refrain  from  insult  as  much  as  you  are  able.  Having  leveled 
my  palace,  don't  erect  a  hovel  and  complacently  admire  your 
own  charity  in  giving  me  that  for  a  home.  If  I  imagined  you 
really  wished  me  to  marry  Isabella,  I'd  cut  my  throat." 

"  Oh  the  evil  is  that  I  am  not  jealous,  is  it  ?"  cried  Catherine. 
"  Well,  I  won't  repeat  my  offer  of  a  wife.  It  is  as  bad  as 
offering  Satan  a  lost  soul.  Your  bliss  lies,  like  his,  in  inflicting 
misery.  You  prove  it.  Edgar  is  restored  from  the  ill-temper 
he  gave  way  to  at  your  coming;  I  begin  to  be  secure  and 
tranquil;  and  you,  restless  to  know  us  at  peace,  appear  re- 
solved on  exciting  a  quarrel.  Quarrel  with  Edgar  if  you 
please,  Heathcliff,  and  deceive  his  sister ;  you'll  hit  on  exactly 
the  most  efficient  method  of  revenging  yourself  on  me." 

The  conversation  ceased  ;  Mrs.  Linton  sat  down  by  the  fire, 
flushed  and  gloomy.  The  spirit  which  served  her  was  growing 
intractable  :  she  could  neither  lay  nor  control  it.  He  stood  on 
the  hearth,  with  folded  arms,  brooding  on  his  evil  thoughts;  and 
in  this  position  I  left  them,  to  seek  the  master  who  was  wonder- 
ing what  kept  Catherine  below  so  long. 

"  Ellen,"  said  he,  when  I  entered,  "  have  you  seen  your  mis- 
tress ]" 

*  Yes,  she's  in  the  kitchen,  sir,"  I  answered.  "  She's  sadly 
put  out  by  Mr.  Heathcliff's  behavior :  and,  indeed,  I  do  think 
it's  time  to  arrange  his  visits  on  another  footing.     There's  harm 


100  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

in  being  too  soft,  and  now  it's  come  to  this—."  And  I  related 
the  scene  in  the  court,  and,  as  near  as  I  dared,  the  whole  sub- 
sequent dispute.  I  fancied  it  could  not  be  very  prejudicial  to 
Mrs.  Linton,  unless  she  made  it  so  afterward,  by  assuming  the 
defensive  for  her  guest. 

Edgar  Linton  had  difficulty  in  hearing  me  to  the  close.  His 
first  words  revealed  that  he  did  not  clear  his  wife  of  blame. 

"  This  is  insufferable  !"  he  exclaimed.  "  It  is  disgraceful  that 
she  should  own  him  for  a  friend,  and  force  his  company  on  me ! 
Call  me  two  men  out  of  the  hall,  Ellen.  Catherine  shall  linger 
no  longer  to  argue  with  the  low  ruffian — I  have  humored  her 
enough." 

He  descended,  and,  bidding  the  servants  wait  in  the  passage, 
went,  followed  by  me,  to  the  kitchen.  Its  occupants  had  re- 
commenced their  angry  discussion ;  Mrs.  Linton,  at  least,  was 
scolding  with  renewed  vigor;  Heathcliff  had  moved  to  the 
window,  and  hung  his  head,  apparently  somewhat  cowed  by 
her  violent  rating. 

He  saw  the  master  first,  and  made  a  hasty  motion  that  she 
should  be  silent;  which  she  obeyed  abruptly,  on  discovering 
the  reason  of  his  intimation. 

"  How  is  this  V  said  Linton,  addressing  her;  "  what  notion 
of  propriety  must  you  have  to  remain  here,  after  the  language 
which  has  been  held  to  you  by  that  blackguard  ]  I  suppose 
because  it  is  his  ordinary  talk  you  think  nothing  of  it ;  you  are 
habituated  to  his  baseness,  and,  perhaps,  imagine  I  can  get  used 
to  it  too !" 

"Have  you  been  listening  at  the  door,  Edgar1?"  asked  the 
mistress,  in  a  tone  particularly  calculated  to  provoke  her  hus- 
band, implying  both  carelessness  and  contempt  of  his  irritation. 

Heathcliff,  who  had  raised  his  eyes  at  the  former  speech, 
gave  a  sneering  laugh  at  the  latter,  on  purpose,  it  seemed,  to 
draw  Mr.  Linton's  attention  to  him. 

He  succeeded;  but  Edgar  did  not  mean  to  entertain  him 
with  any  high  flights  of  passion. 

"  I  have  been  so  far  forbearing  with  you,  sir,"  he  said, 
quietly ;  "  not  that  I  was  ignorant  of  your  miserable,  degraded 
character,  but  I  felt  you  were  only  partly  responsible  for  that ; 
and  Catherine,  wishing  to  keep  up  your  acquaintance,  I  ac- 
quiesced— foolishly.  Your  presence  is  a  moral  poison  that 
would  contaminate  the  most  virtuous;  for  that  cause,  and  to 
prevent  worse  consequences,  I  shall  deny  you  hereafter  admis- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  101 

sion  into  this  house,  and  give  notice  now  that  I  require  your 
instant  departure.  Three  minutes'  delay  will  render  it  in- 
voluntary and  ignominious." 

Heathcliff  measured  the  height  and  breadth  of  the  speaker 
with  an  eye  full  of  derision. 

"  Cathy,  this  lamb  of  yours  threatens  like  a  bull !"  he  said. 
"  It  is  in  danger  of  splitting  its  skull  against  my  knuckles.  By 
God,  Mr.  Linton,  I'm  mortally  sorry  that  you  are  not  worth 
knocking  down !" 

My  master  glanced  toward  the  passage,  and  signed  me  to 
fetch  the  men — he  had  no  intention  of  hazarding  a  personal 
encounter. 

I  obeyed  the  hint;  but  Mrs.  Linton  suspecting  something, 
followed,  and  when  I  attempted  to  call  them,  she  pulled  me 
back,  slammed  the  door  to,  and  locked  it. 

"  Fair  means !"  she  said,  in  answer  to  her  husband's  look 
of  angry  surprise.  "  If  you  have  not  the  courage  to  attack  him, 
make  an  apology,  or  allow  yourself  to  be  beaten.  It  will  cor- 
rect you  of  feigning  more  valor  than  you  possess*.  No,  I'll 
swallow  the  key  before  you  shall  get  it !  I'm  delightfully 
rewarded  for  my  kindness  to  each !  After  constant  indulgence 
of  one's  weak  nature,  and  the  other's  bad  one,  I  earn,  for 
thanks,  two  samples  of  blind  ingratitude,  stupid  to  absurdity ! 
Edgar,  I  was  defending  you  and  yours ;  and  I  wish  Heath- 
cliff  may  flog  you  sick,  for  daring  to  think  an  evil  thought 
of  me !" 

It  did  not  need  the  medium  of  a  flogging  to  produce  that 
effect  on  the  master.  He  tried  to  wrest  the  key  from 
Catherine's  grasp;  and  for  safety  she  flung  it  into  the  hottest 
part  of  the  fire;  whereupon  Mr.  Edgar  was  taken  with  a 
nervous  trembling,  and  his  countenance  grew  deadly  pale. 
For  his  life  he  could  not  avert  that  access  of  emotion  ;  mingled 
anguish  and  humiliation  overcame  him  completely.  He  leaned 
on  the  back  of  a  chair,  and  covered  his  face. 

"  Oh !  Heavens !  In  old  days  this  would  win  you  knight- 
hood!" exclaimed  Mrs.  Linton.  "We  are  vanquished!  Heath- 
cliff  would  as  soon  lift  a  finger  at  you  as  the  king  would  march 
his  army  against  a  colony  of  mice.  Cheer  up,  you  shan't  be 
hurt !     Your  type  is  not  a  lamb,  it's  a  sucking  leveret." 

"I  wish  you  joy  of  the  milk-blooded  coward,  Cathy!"  said 
her  friend.  "  I  compliment  you  on  your  taste  :  and  that  is  the 
slavering,  shivering  thing  you  preferred  to  me  !     I  would  not 


102  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

strike  him  with  my  fist,  but  I'd  kick  him  with  my  foot,  and  ex- 
perience considerable  satisfaction.  Is  he  weeping,  or  is  he  going 
to  faint  for  fear  V 

The  fellow  approached  and  gave  the  chair  on  which  Linton 
rested  a  push.  He'd  better  have  kept  his  distance :  my  master 
quickly  sprang  erect,  and  struck  him  full  on  the  throat  a  blow  that 
would  have  leveled  a  slighter  man. 

It  took  his  breath  for  a  minute;  and,  while  he  choked,  Mr. 
Linton  walked  out  by  the  back  door  into  the  yard,  and  from 
thence  to  the  front  entrance. 

"There!  you've  done  with  coming  here,"  cried  Catherine. 
"  Get  away,  now — he'll  return  with  a  brace  of  pistols,  and  half- 
a-dozen  assistants.  If  he  did  overhear  us,  of  course,  he'd  never 
forgive  you.  You've  played  me  an  ill  turn,  Heathcliff!  But 
go — make  haste!  I'd  rather  see  Edgar  at  bay  than  you." 

"Do  you  suppose  I'm  going  with  that  blow  burning  in  my 
gullet1?"  he  thundered.  "By  Hell,  no!  I'll  crush  his  ribs  in 
like  a  rotten  hazle-nut  before  I  cross  the  threshold  !  If  I  don't 
floor  him  now,  I  shall  murder  him  sometime ;  so,  as  you  value 
his  existence,  let  me  get  at  him  !" 

"  He  is  not  coming,"  I  interposed,  framing  a  bit  of  a  lie. 
"  There's  the  coachman,  and  the  two  gardeners ;  you'll  surely 
not  wait  to  be  thrust  into  the  road  by  them  !  Each  has  a  blud- 
geon, and  master  will,  very  likely,  be  watching  from  the  parlor 
windows  to  see  that  they  fulfil  his  orders." 

The  gardeners  and  coachman  were  there,  but  Linton  was  with 
them.  They  had  already  entered  the  court.  Heathcliff,  on 
second  thoughts,  resolved  to  avoid  a  struggle  against  three 
underlings ;  he  seized  the  poker,  smashed  the  lock  from  the 
inner  door,  and  made  his  escape  as  they  tramped  in. 

Mrs.  Linton,  who  was  very  much  excited,  bid  me  accompany 
her  up  stairs.  She  did  not  know  my  share  in  contributing  to  the 
disturbance,  and  I  was  anxious  to  keep  her  in  ignorance. 

"I'm  nearly  distracted,  Nelly  !"  she  exclaimed,  throwing  her- 
self on  the  sofa.  "A  thousand  smiths'  hammers  are  beating  in 
my  head !  Tell  Isabella  to  shun  me — this  uproar  is  owing  to 
her;  and  should  she  or  any  one  else  aggravate  my  anger  at 
present,  I  shall  get  wild.  And,  Nelly,  say  to  Edgar,  if  you  see 
him  again  to-night,  that  I'm  in  danger  of  being  seriously  ill — I 
wish  it  may  prove  true.  He  has  startled  and  distressed  me 
shockingly !  I  want  to  frighten  him.  Besides,  he  might  come 
and  begin  a  string  of  abuse  or  complainings  ;    I'm  certain  I 


WUTHER1NG      HEIGHTS.  103 

should  recriminate,  and  God  knows  where  we  should  end ! 
Will  you  do  so,  my  good  Nelly  ?  You  are  aware  that  I  am  no 
way  blamable  in  this  matter.  What  possessed  him  to  turn  lis- 
tener'? Heathcliff's  talk  was  outrageous  after  you  left  us  ;  but 
I  could  soon  have  diverted  him  from  Isabella,  and  the  rest  meant 
nothing.  Now,  all  is  dashed  wrong  by  the  fool's  craving  to  hear 
evil  of  self,  that  haunts  some  people  like  a  demon  !  Had  Edgar 
never  gathered  our  conversation,  he  would  never  have  been  the 
worse  for  it.  Really,  when  he  opened  on  me  in  that  unreason- 
able tone  of  displeasure,  after  I  had  scolded  Heathcliff  till  I  was 
hoarse  for  him,  I  did  not  care,  hardly,  what  they  did  to  each 
other,  especially  as  I  felt  that,  however  the  scene  closed,  We 
should  all  be  driven  asunder,  for  nobody  knows  how  long ! 
Well,  if  I  can  not  keep  Heathcliff  for  my  friend,  if  Edgar  will 
be  mean  and  jealous,  I'll  try  to  break  their  hearts  by  breaking 
my  own.  That  will  be  a  prompt  way  of  finishing  all,  when  I 
am  pushed  to  extremity !  But  it's  a  deed  to  be  reserved  for  a 
forlorn  hope — I'd  not  take  Linton  by  surprise  with  it.  To  this 
point  he  has  been  discreet  in  dreading  to  provoke  me  ;  you  must 
represent  the  peril  of  quitting  that  policy ;  and  remind  him  of 
my  passionate  temper,  verging,  when  kindled,  on  frenzy.  I  wish 
you  could  dismiss  that  apathy  out  of  your  countenance,  and  look 
rather  more  anxious  about  me  !" 

The  stolidity  with  which  I  received  these  instructions  was,  no 
doubt,  rather  exasperating ;  for  they  were  delivered  in  perfect 
sincerity;  but  I  believed  a  person  who  could  plan  the  turning  of 
her  fits  of  passion  to  account  beforehand,  might,  by  exerting  her 
will,  manage  to  control  herself  tolerably,  even  while  under  their 
iufluence ;  and  I  did  not  wish  to  "  frighten"  her  husband,  as  she 
said,  and  multiply  his  annoyances  for  the  purpose  of  serving  her 
selfishness. 

Therefore  I  said  nothing  when  I  met  the  master  coming  to- 
ward the  parlor  ;  but  I  took  the  liberty  of  turning  back  to  listen 
whether  they  would  resume  their  quarrel  together. 

He  began  to  speak  first. 

"  Remain  where  you  are,  Catherine,"  he  said,  without  any 
anger  in  his  voice,  but  with  much  sorrowful  despondency.  "  I 
shall  not  stay.  I  am  neither  come  to  wrangle,  nor  be  reconciled  : 
but  I  wish  just  to  learn  whether,  after  this  evening's  events,  you 
intend  to  continue  your  intimacy  with — " 

"  Oh,  for  mercy's  sake,"  interrupted  the  mistress,  stamping 
her  foot,  "  for  mercy's  sake,  let  us  hear  no  more  of  it  now ! 


104  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

Your  cold  blood  can  not  be  worked  into  a  fever — your  veins 
are  full  of  ice- water — but  mine  are  boiling ;  and  the  sight  of  such 
chillness  makes  them  dance." 

"  To  get  rid  of  me — answer  my  question,"  persevered  Mr. 
Linton.  "  You  must  answer  it ;  and  that  violence  does  not 
alarm  me.  I  have  found  that  you  can  be  as  stoical  as  any  one 
when  you  please.  Will  you  give  up  HeathclhT  hereafter,  or 
will  you  give  up  me  1  It  is  impossible  for  you  to  be  my  friend 
and  his  at  the  same  time,  and  I  absolutely  require  to  know  which 
you  choose." 

"I  require  to  be  let  alone  !"  exclaimed  Catherine,  furiously. 
"  I  demand  it !  Don't  you  see  I  can  scarcely  stand  %  Edgar, 
you — you  leave  me  !" 

She  rung  the  bell  till  it  broke  with  a  twang  :  I  entered  leisure- 
ly. It  was  enough  to  try  the  temper  of  a  saint,  such  senseless, 
wicked  rages  !  There  she  lay,  dashing  her  head  against  the 
arm  of  the  sofa  and  grinding  her  teeth,  so  that  you  might  fancy 
she  would  crush  them  to  splinters ! 

Mr.  Linton  stood  looking  at  her  in  sudden  compunction  and 
fear.  He  told  me  to  fetch  some  water.  She  had  no  breath  for 
speaking. 

I  brought  a  glassful,  and,  as  she  would  not  drink,  I  sprinkled 
it  on  her  face.  In  a  few  seconds  she  stretched  herself  out  stiff, 
and  turned  up  her  eyes,  while  her  cheeks,  at  once  blanched  and 
livid,  assumed  the  aspect  of  death. 

Linton  looked  terrified. 

"  There  is  nothing  in  the  world  the  matter,"  I  whispered.  I 
did  not  want  him  to  yield,  though  I  could  not  help  being  afraid 
in  my  heart. 

"  She  has  blood  on  her  lips  !"  he  said,  shuddering. 

"Never  mind  !"  I  answered,  tartly;  and  I  told  him  how  she 
had  resolved,  previous  to  his  coming,  on  exhibiting  a  fit  of 
frenzy. 

I  incautiously  gave  the  account  aloud,  and  she  heard  me,  for 
she  started  up — her  hair  flying  over  her  shoulders,  her  eyes 
flashing,  the  muscles  of  her  neck  and  arms  standing  out  preter- 
naturally.  I  made  up  my  mind  for  broken  bones  at  least ;  but 
she  only  glared  about  her  for  an  instant,  and  then  rushed  from 
the  room. 

The  master  directed  me  to  follow;  I  did,  to  her  chamber 
door ;  she  hindered  me  from  going  farther  by  securing  it  against 
me. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  105 

As  she  never  offered  to  descend  to  breakfast  next  morning,  I 
went  to  ask  whether  she  would  have  some  carried  up. 

"  No  !"  she  replied,  peremptorily. 

The  same  question  was  repeated  at  dinner  and  tea,  and  again 
on  the  morrow  after,  and  received  the  same  answer. 

Mr.  Linton,  on  his  part,  spent  his  time  in  the  library,  and  did 
not  inquire  concerning  his  wife's  occupations.  Isabella  and  he 
had  had  an  hour's  interview,  during  which  he  tried  to  elicit  from 
her  some  sentiment  of  proper  horror  for  Heathclirf's  advances  ; 
but  he  could  make  nothing  of  her  evasive  replies,  and  was  obliged 
to  close  the  examination  unsatisfactorily,  adding,  however,  a 
solemn  warning,  that  if  she  were  so  insane  as  to  encourage  that 
worthless  suitor,  it  would  dissolve  all  bonds  of  relationship  be- 
tween herself  and  him. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

While  Miss  Linton  moped  about  the  park  and  garden,  always 
silent,  and  almost  always  in  tears,  and  her  brother  shut  himself 
up  among  books  that  he  never  opened,  wearying,  I  guessed,  with 
a  continual  vague  expectation  that  Catherine,  repenting  her  con- 
duct, would  come  of  her  own  accord  to  ask  pardon  and  seek  a 
reconciliation — and  she  fasted  pertinaciously,  under  the  idea, 
probably,  that  at  every  meal  Edgar  was  ready  to  choke  for  her 
absence,  and  pride  alone  held  him  from  running  to  cast  himself 
at  her  feet — I  went  about  my  household  duties,  convinced  that 
the  Grange  had  but  one  sensible  soul  in  its  walls,  and  that  lodged 
in  my  body. 

I  wasted  no  condolences  on  Miss,  nor  any  expostulations  on 
my  mistress,  nor  did  I  pay  attention  to  the  sighs  of  my  master, 
who  yearned  to  hear  his  lady's  name,  since  he  might  not  hear 
her  voice. 

I  determined  they  should  come  about  as  they  pleased  for  me ; 
and  though  it  was  a  tiresomely  slow  process,  I  began  to  rejoice 
at  length  in  a  faint  dawn  of  its  progress,  as  I  thought  at  first. 

Mrs.  Linton  on  the  third  day  unbarred  her  door,  and  having 
finished  the  water  in  her  pitcher  and  decanter,  desired  a  re- 
newed supply  and  a  basin  of  gruel,  for  she  believed  she  was 
dying.     That  I  set  down  as  a  speech  meant  for  Edgar's  ears.    I 

E* 


106  WUTHERING       HEIGHTS. 

believed  no  such  thing ;  so  I  kept  it  to  myself,  and  brought  her 
some  tea  and  dry  toast. 

She  ate  and  drank  eagerly ;  and  sank  back  on  her  pillow, 
again  clenching  her  hands  and  groaning. 

"  Oh,  I  will  die,"  she  exclaimed,  "since  no  one  cares  any  thing 
about  me.     I  wish  I  had  not  taken  that." 

Then  a  good  while  after  I  heard  her  murmur, 

"  No,  I'll  not  die — he'd  be  glad — he  does  not  love  me  at  all 
— he  would  never  miss  me  !" 

"  Did  you  want  any  thing,  ma'am  ]"  I  inquired,  still  pre- 
serving my  external  composure,  in  spite  of  her  ghastly  counte- 
nance, and  strange,  exaggerated  manner. 

"  What  is  that  apathetic  being  doing  ]"  she  demanded,  push- 
ing the  thick  entangled  locks  from  her  wasted  face.  "  Has  he 
fallen  into  a  lethargy,  or  is  he  dead  ]" 

"  Neither,"  replied  I ;  "  if  you  mean  Mr.  Linton.  He's  toler- 
ably well,  I  think,  though  his  studies  occupy  him  rather  more 
than  they  ought ;  he  is  continually  among  his  books,  since  he 
has  no  other  society." 

I  should  not  have  spoken  so,  if  I  had  known  her  true  con- 
dition, but  I  could  not  get  rid  of  the  notion  that  she  acted  a  part 
of  her  disorder. 

"  Among  his  books  !"  she  cried,  confounded.  "  And  I  dying  ! 
I  on  the  brink  of  the  grave  !  My  God  !  does  he  know  how 
I'm  altered  V  continued  she,  staring  at  her  reflection  in  a  mir- 
ror, hanging  against  the  opposite  wall.  "Is  that  Catherine 
Linton]  He  imagines  me  in  a  pet — in  play,  perhaps.  Can 
not  you  inform  him  that  it  is  frightful  earnest  1  Nelly,  if  it  be 
not  too  late,  as  soon  as  I  learn  how  he  feels,  I'll  choose  between 
these  two  :  either  to  starve,  at  once — -that  would  be  no  punish- 
ment unless  he  had  a  heart — or  to  recover  and  leave  the  coun- 
try. Are  you  speaking  the  truth  about  him  now  ]  Take  care. 
Is  he  actually  so  utterly  indifferent  for  my  life  V* 

"  Why,  ma'am,"  I  answered,  "  the  master  has  no  idea  of 
your  being  deranged  ;  and,  of  course,  he  does  not  fear  that  you 
will  let  yourself  die  of  hunger." 

"  You  think  not  ]  Can  not  you  tell  him  I  will  1"  she  return- 
ed ;  "  persuade  him — speak  of  your  own  mind — say  you  are 
certain  I  will !" 

II  No,  you  forget,  Mrs.  Linton,"  I  suggested,  "  that  you  have 
eaten  some  food  with  a  relish  this  evening,  and  to-morrow  you 
will  perceive  its  good  effects." 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  107 


"If  I  were  only  sure  it  would  kill  him,"  she  interrupted, 
"  I'd  kill  myself  directly !  These  three  awful  nights,  I've  never 
closed  my  lids — and  oh,  I've  been  tormented  !  I've  been  haunt- 
ed, Nelly !  But  I  begin  to  fancy  you  don't  like  me.  How 
strange  !  I  thought,  though  every  body  hated  and  despised 
each  other,  they  could  not  avoid  loving  me — and  they  have  all 
turned  to  enemies  in  a  few  hours.  They  have,  I'm  positive ; 
the  people  here.  How  dreary  to  meet  death,  surrounded  by 
their  cold  faces !  Isabella,  terrified  and  repelled,  afraid  to  en- 
ter the  room,  it  would  be  so  dreadful  to  watch  Catherine  go. 
And  Edgar  standing  solemnly  by  to  see  it  over;  then  offering 
prayers  of  thanks  to  God  for  restoring  peace  to  his  house,  and 
going  back  to  his  books  /  What,  in  the  name  of  all  that  feels, 
has  he  to  do  with  books,  when  I  am  dying?" 

She  could  not  bear  the  notion  which  I  had  put  into  her  head 
of  Mr.  Linton's  philosophical  resignation.  Tossing  about,  she 
increased  her  feverish  bewilderment  to  madness,  and  tore  the 
pillow  with  her  teeth  ;  then,  raising  herself  up  all  burning,  de- 
sired that  I  would  open  the  window.  We  were  in  the  middle 
of  winter,  the  wind  blew  strong  from  the  northeast,  and  I  ob- 
jected. 

Both  the  expressions  flitting  over  her  face,  and  the  changes 
of  her  moods,  began  to  alarm  me  terribly ;  and  brought  to  my 
recollection  her  former  illness,  and  the  doctor's  injunction  that 
she  should  not  be  crossed. 

A  minute  previously  she  was  violent;  now*  supported  on  one 
arm,  and  not  noticing  my  refusal  to  obey  her,  she  seemed  to  find 
childish  diversion  in  pulling  the  feathers  from  the  rents  she  had 
just  made,  and  ranging  them  on  the  sheet  according  to  their 
different  species  :  her  mind  had  strayed  to  other  associations. 

"  That's  a  turkey's,"  she  murmured  to  herself;  "  and  this  is 
a  wild-duck's ;  and  this  is  a  pigeon's.  Ah,  they  put  pigeons' 
feathers  in  the  pillows — no  wonder  I  couldn't  die  !  Let  me 
take  care  to  throw  it  on  the  floor  when  I  lie  down.  And  here 
is  a  moor-cock's  ;  and  this — I  should  know  it  among  a  thousand 
— it's  a  lapwing's.  Bonny  bird  !  wheeling  over  our  heads  in 
the  middle  of  the  moor.  It  wanted  to  get  to  its  nest,  for  the 
clouds  touched  the  swells,  and  it  felt  rain  coming.  This  feather 
was  picked  up  from  the  heath,  the  bird  was  not  shot — we  saw 
its  nest  in  the  winter,  full  of  little  skeletons.  Heathcliff  set  a 
trap  over  it,  and  the  old  ones  dare  not  come.  I  made  him 
promise  he'd  never  shoot  a  lapwing  after  that,  and  he  didn't. 


108  WUTHERING      HEIGHT  8. 

Yes,  here  are  more  !  Did  he  shoot  my  lapwings,  Nelly  1  Are 
they  red,  any  of  them  ]     Let  me  look." 

"  Give  over  with  that  baby- work !"  I  interrupted,  dragging 
the  pillow  away,  and  turning  the  holes  toward  the  mattress,  for 
she  was  removing  its  contents  by  handfuls.  "  Lie  down  and 
shut  your  eyes,  you're  wandering.  There's  a  mess  !  The  down 
is  flying  about  like  snow !" 

I  went  here  and  there  collecting  it. 

"  I  see  in  you,  Nelly,"  she  continued,  dreamily,  "  an  aged 
woman- — you  have  gray  hair  and  bent  shoulders.  This  bed  is 
the  fairy  cave  under  Penistone  Crag,  and  you  are  gathering  elf- 
bolts  to  hurt  our  heifers  ;  pretending,  while  I  am  near,  that  they 
are  only  locks  of  wool.  That's  what  you'll  come  to  fifty  years 
hence  ;  I  know  you  are  not  so  now.  I'm  not  wandering,  you're 
mistaken,  or  else  I  should  believe  you  really  were  that  withered 
hag,  and  I  should  think  I  was  under  Penistone  Crag ;  and  I'm 
conscious  it's  night,  and  there  are  two  candles  on  the  table, 
making  the  black  press  shine  like  jet." 

"  The  black  press  1  where  is  that  V  I  asked.  "You  are  talk- 
ing in  your  sleep  !" 

"  It's  against  the  wall,  as  it  always  is,"  she  replied.  "  It 
does  appear  odd — I  see  a  face  in  it !" 

"  There  is  no  press  in  the  room,  and  never  was,"  said  I,  re- 
suming my  seat,  and  looping  up  the  curtain  that  I  might  watch 
her. 

"  Don't  you  see  that  face  1"  she  inquired,  gazing  earnestly  at 
the  mirror. 

And,  say  what  I  could,  I  was  incapable  of  making  her  com- 
prehend it  to  be  her  own;  so  I  rose  and  covered  it  with  a 
shawl. 

"It's  behind  there  still!"  she  pursued,  anxiously.  "And  it 
stirred.  Who  is  it  %  I  hope  it  will  not  come  out  when  you  are 
gone !  Oh,  Nelly,  the  room  is  haunted  !  I'm  afraid  of  being 
alone  !" 

I  took  her  hand  in  mine,  and  bid  her  be  composed,  for  a  suc- 
cession of  shudders  convulsed  her  frame,  and  she  would  keep 
straining  her  gaze  toward  the  glass. 

"  There's  nobody  here,"  I  insisted,  "  It  was  yourself,  Mrs. 
Linton ;  you  knew  it  a  while  since." 

"Myself!"  she  gasped,  "and  the  clock  is  striking  twelve  I 
It's  true,  then  ;  that's  dreadful !" 

Her  fingers  clutched  the  clothes,  and  gathered  them  over  her 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  109 

eyes.  I  attempted  to  steal  to  the  door  with  an  intention  of 
calling  her  husband,  but  I  was  summoned  back  by  a  piercing 
shriek.     The  shawl  had  dropped  from  the  frame. 

"  Why,  what  is  the  matter  V  cried  I.  "  Who  is  coward  now  1 
Wake  up  !  That  is  the  glass — the  mirror,  Mrs.  Linton ;  and 
you  see  yourself  in  it,  and  there  am  I,  too,  by  your  side." 

Trembling  and  bewildered,  she  held  me  fast,  but  the  horror 
gradually  passed  from  her  countenance  ;  its  paleness  gave  place 
to  a  glow  of  shame. 

"  Oh,  dear  !  I  thought  I  was  at  home,"  she  sighed.  "  I  thought 
I  was  lying  in  my  chamber  at  Wuthering  Heights.  Because  I'm 
weak,  my  brain  got  confused,  and  I  screamed  unconsciously. 
Don't  say  any  thing,  but  stay  with  me.  I  dread  sleeping  ;  my 
dreams  appall  me." 

"  A  sound  sleep  would  do  you  good,  ma'am,"  I  answered  ; 
"  and  I  hope  this  suffering  will  prevent  your  trying  starving 
again." 

"Oh,  if  I  were  but  in  my  own  bed  in  the  old  house  !"  she 
went  on  bitterly,  wringing  her  hands.  "  And  that  wind  sound- 
ing in  the  firs  by  the  lattice.  Do  let  me  feel  it — it  comes 
straight  down  the  moor — do  let  me  have  one  breath  !" 

To  pacify  her,  I  held  the  casement  ajar  a  few  seconds.  A 
cold  blast  rushed  through  ;  I  closed  it,  and  returned  to  my  post. 

She  lay  still  now,  her  face  bathed  in  tears.  Exhaustion  of 
body  had  entirely  subdued  her  spirit ;  our  fiery  Catherine  was 
no  better  than  a  wailing  child  ! 

"  How  long  is  it  since  I  shut  myself  in  here  V  she  asked, 
suddenly  reviving. 

"It  was  Monday  evening,"  I  replied,  "and  this  is  Thursday 
night,  or  rather  Friday  morning,  at  present." 

"What!  of  the  same  week]"  she  exclaimed.  "Only  that 
brief  time  %n 

"  Long  enough  to  live  on  nothing  but  cold  water  and  ill-tem- 
per," observed  I. 

"  Well,  it  seems  a  weary  number  of  hours,"  she  muttered, 
doubtfully  ;  "  it  must  be  more — I  remember  being  in  the  parlor 
after  they  had  quarreled  ;  and  Edgar  being  cruelly  provoking, 
and  me  running  into  this  room  desperate.  As  soon  as  ever  I 
had  barred  the  door,  utter  blackness  overwhelmed  me,  and  I 
fell  on  the  floor.  I  couldn't  explain  to  Edgar  how  certain  I  felt 
of  having  a  fit,  or  going  raging  mad,  if  he  persisted  in  teasing 
me  !     I  had  no  command  of  tongue  or  brain,  and  he  did  not 


110  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

guess  my  agony,  perhaps  ;  it  barely  left  me  sense  to  try  to 
escape  from  him  and  his  voice.  Before  I  recovered  sufficiently 
to  see  and  hear,  it  began  to  be  dawn ;  and,  Nelly,  I'll  tell  you 
what  I  thought,  and  what  has  kept  recurring  and  recurring  till 
I  feared  for  my  reason  :  I  thought,  as  I  lay  there  with  my 
head  against  that  table  leg,  and  my  eyes  dimly  discerning  the 
gray  square  of  the  window,  that  I  was  inclosed  in  the  oak- 
paneled  bed  at  home  ;  and  my  heart  ached  with  some  great 
grief  which,  just  waking,  I  could  not  recollect.  I  pondered 
and  worried  myself  to  discover  what  it  could  be;  and,  most 
strangely,  the  whole  last  seven  years  of  my  life  grew  a  blank  ! 
I  did  not  recall  that  they  had  been  at  all.  I  was  a  child ;  my 
father  was  just  buried,  and  my  misery  arose  from  the  separation 
that  Hindley  had  ordered  between  me  and  HeathclifF.  I  was 
laid  alone,  for  the  first  time,  and  rousing  from  a  dismal  doze 
after  a  night  of  weeping,  I  lifted  my  hand  to  push  the  panels 
aside ;  it  struck  the  table-top  !  I  swept  it  along  the  carpet,  and 
then  memory  burst  in — my  late  anguish  was  swallowed  in  a 
paroxysm  of  despair.  I  can  not  say  why  I  felt  so  wildly  wretch- 
ed ;  it  must  have  been  temporary  derangement,  for  there  is 
scarcely  cause.  But,  supposing,  at  twelve  years  old,  I  had  been 
wrenched  from  the  Heights,  and  every  early  association,  and 
my  all  in  all,  as  Heathcliff  was  at  that  time,  and  been  convert- 
ed at  a  stroke  into  Mrs.  Linton,  the  lady  of  Thrushcross  Grange, 
and  the  wife  of  a  stranger,  an  exile  and  outcast  thenceforth 
from  what  had  been  my  world — you  may  fancy  a  glimpse  of 
the  abyss  where  I  groveled  !  Shake  your  head  as  you  will, 
Nelly,  you  have  helped  to  unsettle  me  !  You  should  have 
spoken  to  Edgar,  indeed  you  should,  and  compelled  him  to 
leave  me  quiet.  Oh,  I'm  burning  !  I  wish  I  were  out  of  doors. 
I  wish  I  were  a  girl  again,  half  savage,  and  hardy,  and  free,  and 
laughing  at  injuries,  not  maddening  under  them  !  Why  am  I 
so  changed  %  why  does  my  blood  rush  into  a  hell  of  tumult  at  a 
few  words  ]  I'm  sure  I  should  be  myself  were  I  once  among 
the  heather  on  those  hills.  Open  the  window  again  wide,  fasten 
it  open  !     Quick  !  why  don't  you  move  V 

"  Because  I  won't  give  you  your  death  of  cold,"  I  an- 
swered. 

"  You  won't  give  me  a  chance  of  life,  you  mean,"  she  said 
sullenly.     "  However,  I'm  not  helpless  yet,  I'll  open  it  myself." 

And  sliding  from  the  bed  before  I  could  hinder  her,  she 
crossed  the  room,  walking  very  uncertainly,  threw  it  back,  and 


WUTHERING       HEIGHTS.  Ill 

bent  out,  careless  of  the  frosty  air,  that  cut  about  her  shoulders 
as  keen  as  a  knife. 

I  entreated,  and  finally  attempted  to  force  her  to  retire.  But 
I  soon  found  her  delirious  strength  much  surpassed  mine  (she 
was  delirious  I  became  convinced  by  her  subsequent  actions 
and  ravings). 

There  was  no  moon,  and  every  thing  beneath  lay  in  misty 
darkness  ;  not  a  light  gleamed  from  any  house,  far  or  near ;  all 
had  been  extinguished  long  ago;  and  those  at  Wuthering  Heights 
were  never  visible — still  she  asserted  she  caught  their  shining. 

"  Look !"  she  cried  eagerly,  "  that's  my  room,  with  the 
candle  in  it,  and  the  trees  swaying  before  it — and  the  other 
candle  is  in  Joseph's  garret — Joseph  sits  up  late,  doesn't  he  1 
He's  waiting  till  I  come  home  that  he  may  lock  the  gate  :  well, 
he'll  wait  a  while  yet.  It's  a  rough  journey,  and  a  sad  heart 
to  travel  it ;  and  we  must  pass  by  Gimmerton  Kirk,  to  go  that 
journey  !  "We've  braved  its  ghosts  often  together,  and  dared 
each  other  to  stand  among  the  graves,  and  ask  them  to  come. 
But  Heathcliff,  if  I  dare  you  now,  will  you  venture  1  If  you 
do,  I'll  keep  you.  I'll  not  lie  there  by  myself;  they  may  bury 
me  twelve  feet  deep,  and  throw  the  church  down  over  me  ;  but 
I  won't  rest  till  you  are  with  me — I  never  will !" 

She  paused,  and  resumed  with  a  strange  smile,  "  He's  con- 
sidering— he'd  rather  I'd  come  to  him  !  Find  a  way,  then  ! 
not  through  that  kirkyard.  You  are  slow  !  Be  content,  you 
always  followed  me  !" 

Perceiving  it  vain  to  argue  against  her  insanity,  I  was  plan- 
ning how  I  could  reach  something  to  wrap  about  her,  without 
quitting  my  hold  of  herself,  for  I  could  not  trust  her  alone  by 
the  gaping  lattice  ;  when  to  my  consternation,  I  heard  the 
rattle  of  the  door-handle,  and  Mr.  Linton  entered.  He  had 
only  then  come  from  the  library  ;  and,  in  passing  through  the 
lobby,  had  noticed  our  talking,  and  been  attracted  by  curiosity 
or  fear  to  examine  what  it  signified,  at  that  late  hour. 

"Oh,  sir!"  I  cried,  checking  the  exclamation  risen  to  his 
lips  at  the  sight  which  met  him,  and  the  bleak  atmosphere  of 
the  chamber,  "  my  poor  mistress  is  ill,  and  she  quite  masters 
me  ;  I  can  not  manage  her  at  all ;  pray,  come  and  persuade 
her  to  go  to  bed.  Forget  your  anger,  for  she's  hard  to  guide 
any  way  but  her  own." 

"  Catherine  ill  I"  he  said,  hastening  to  us.  "  Shut  the  win- 
dow, Ellen  !     Catherine  !  why — " 


112  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

He  was  silent ;  the  haggardness  of  Mrs.  Linton's  appearance 
smote  him  speechless,  and  he  could  only  glance  from  her  to 
me  in  horrified  astonishment. 

"  She's  been  fretting  here,"  I  continued,  "  and  eating  scarcely 
any  thing,  and  never  complaining ;  she  would  admit  none  of 
us  till  this  evening,  and  so  we  couldn't  inform  you  of  her  state, 
as  we  were  not  aware  of  it  ourselves — but  it  is  nothing." 

I  felt  I  uttered  my  explanations  awkwardly;  the  master 
frowned.  "  It  is  nothing,  is  it,  Ellen  Dean  V  he  said  sternly. 
"  You  shall  account  more  clearly  for  keeping  me  ignorant  of 
this!"  And  he  took  his  wife  in  his  arms,  and  looked  at  her 
with  anguish. 

At  first  she  gave  him  no  glance  of  recognition — he  was 
invisible  to  her  abstracted  gaze.  The  delirium  was  not  fixed, 
however;  having  weaned  her  eyes  from  contemplating  the 
outer  darkness,  by  degrees  she  centered  her  attention  on  him, 
and  discovered  who  it  was  that  held  her. 

"  Ah  !  you  are  come,  are  you,  Edgar  Linton  I"  she  said,  with 
angry  animation.  "  You  are  one  of  those  things  that  are  ever 
found  when  least  wanted,  and  when  you  are  wanted,  never !  I 
suppose  we  shall  have  plenty  of  lamentations,  now — I  see  we 
shall — but  they  can't  keep  me  from  my  narrow  home  out  yon- 
der—my resting  place  where  I'm  bound  before  spring  is  over ! 
There  it  is,  not  among  the  Lintons,  mind,  under  the  chapel-roof; 
but  in  the  open  air  with  a  headstone,  and  you  may  please  your- 
self, whether  you  go  to  them  or  come  to  me  !" 

"  Catherine,  what  have  you  done  V  commenced  the  master. 
"  Am  I  nothing  to  you,  any  more  ]  Do  you  love  that  wretch, 
Heath—" 

"Hush!"  cried  Mrs.  Linton.  "Hush,  this  moment!  You 
mention  that  name,  and  I  end  the  matter  instantly  by  a  spring 
from  the  window  !  What  you  touch  at  present,  you  may  have  ; 
but  my  soul  will  be  on  that  hill-top  before  you  lay  hands  on  me 
again.  I  don't  want  you,  Edgar ;  I'm  past  wanting  you.  Re- 
turn to  your  books  ;  I'm  glad  you  possess  a  consolation,  for  all 
you  had  in  me  is  gone." 

"  Her  mind  wanders,  sir,"  I  interposed.  "  She  has  been 
talking  nonsense  the  whole  evening ;  but  let  her  have  quiet 
and  proper  attendance,  and  she'll  rally.  Hereafter,  we  must 
be  cautious  how  we  vex  her." 

"  I  desire  no  further  advice  from  you,"  answered  Mr.  Linton. 
"  You  knew  your  mistress's  nature,  and  you  encouraged  me  to 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  113 

harass  her.  And  not  to  give  me  one  hint  of  how  she  has  been 
these  three  days  !  It  was  heartless !  months  of  sickness  could 
not  cause  such  a  change  !" 

I  began  to  defend  myself,  thinking  it  too  bad  to  be  blamed 
for  another's  wicked  waywardness  ! 

"  I  knew  Mrs.  Linton's  nature  to  be  headstrong  and  domineer- 
ing," cried  I ;  "  but  I  didn't  know  that  you  wished  to  foster  her 
fierce  temper !  I  did  not  know  that,  to  humor  her,  I  should  wink 
at  Mr.  Heathcliff.  I  performed  the  duty  of  a  faithful  servant  in 
telling  you,  and  I  have  got  a  faithful  servant's  wages  !  Well, 
it  will  teach  me  to  be  careful  next  time.  Next  time  you  may 
gather  intelligence  for  yourself?" 

"  The  next  time  you  bring  a  tale  to  me,  you  shall  quit  my 
service,  Ellen  Dean,"  he  replied. 

"You'd  rather  hear  nothing  about  it,  I  suppose,  then, 
Mr.  Linton  1"  said  I.  "  Heathcliff  has  your  permission  to 
come  a  courting  to  Miss,  and  to  drop  in  at  every  opportunity 
your  absence  offers,  on  purpose  to  poison  the  mistress  against 
you]" 

Confused  as  Catherine  was,  her  wits  were  alert  at  applying 
our  conversation. 

"  Ah  1  Nelly  has  played  traitor,"  she  exclaimed,  passionately, 
"  Nelly  is  my  hidden  enemy — you  witch  !  So  you  do  seek  elf- 
bolts  to  hurts  us  !  Let  me  go,  and  I'll  make  her  rue  !  I'll  make 
her  howl  a  recantation  !" 

A  maniac's  fury  kindled  under  her  brows ;  she  struggled 
desperately  to  disengage  herself  from  Linton's  arms.  I  felt  no 
inclination  to  tarry  the  event ;  and  resolving  to  seek  medical 
aid  on  my  own  responsibility,  I  quitted  the  chamber. 

In  passing  the  garden  to  reach  the  road,  at  a  place  where  a 
bridle  hook  is  driven  into  the  wall,  I  saw  something  white 
moved  irregularly,  evidently  by  another  agent  than  the  wind. 
Notwithstanding  my  hurry,  I  staid  to  examine  it,  lest  ever  after 
I  should  have  the  conviction  impressed  on  my  imagination  that 
it  was  a  creature  of  the  other  world. 

My  surprise  and  perplexity  were  great  to  discover,  by  touch 
more  than  vision,  Miss  Isabella's  springer,  Fanny,  suspended 
to  a  handkerchief,  and  nearly  at  its  last  gasp. 

I  quickly  released  the  animal,  and  lifted  it  into  the  garden. 
I  had  seen  it  follow  its  mistress  up-stairs,  when  she  went  to 
bed,  and  wondered  much  how  it  could  have  got  out  there,  and 
what  mischievous  person  had  treated  it  so. 


114  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

While  untying  the  knot  round  the  hook,  it  seemed  to  me 
that  I  repeatedly  caught  the  beat  of  horses'  feet  galloping  at 
some  distance ;  but  there  were  such  a  number  of  things  to  oc- 
cupy ray  reflections  that  I  hardly  gave  the  circumstance  a 
thought,  though  it  was  a  strange  sound,  in  that  place,  at  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning. 

Mr.  Kenneth  was  fortunately  just  issuing  from  his  house  to 
see  a  patient  in  the  village  as  I  came  up  the  street;  and  my 
account  of  Catherine  Linton's  malady  induced  him  to  accom- 
pany me  back  immediately. 

He  was  a  plain,  rough  man;  and  he  made  no  scruple  to 
speak  his  doubts  of  her  surviving  this  second  attack ;  unless  she 
were  more  submissive  to  his  directions  than  she  had  shown  her- 
self before. 

"  Nelly  Dean,"  said  he,  "  I  can't  help  fancying  there's  an  ex- 
tra cause  for  this.  What  has  there  been  to  do  at  the  Grange  % 
We've  odd  reports  up  here.  A  stout,  hearty  lass  like  Catherine 
does  not  fall  ill  for  a  trifle ;  and  that  sort  of  people  should  not 
either.  It's  hard  work  bringing  them  through  fevers,  and  such 
things.     How  did  it  begin  ]" 

"  The  master  will  inform  you,"  I  answered ;  "  but  you  are 
acquainted  with  the  Earnshaws'  violent  dispositions,  and  Mrs. 
Linton  caps  them  all.  I  may  say  this  :  it  commenced  in  a 
quarrel.  She  was  struck  during  a  tempest  of  passion  with  a 
kind  of  fit.  That's  her  account,  at  least ;  for  she  flew  off  in  the 
height  of  it,  and  locked  herself  up.  Afterward,  she  refused  to 
eat,  and  now  she  alternately  raves,  and  remains  in  a  half  dream, 
knowing  those  about  her,  but  having  her  mind  filled  with  all 
sorts  of  strange  ideas  and  illusions." 

"  Mr.  Linton  will  be  sorry  V*  observed  Kenneth,  interroga- 
tively. 

"  Sorry  ]  he'll  break  his  heart  should  any  thing  happen  !"  I 
replied.     "  Don't  alarm  him  more  than  necessary." 

"  Well,  I  told  him  to  beware,"  said  my  companion,  "  and  he 
must  bide  the  consequences  of  neglecting  my  warning!  Hasn't 
he  been  thick  with  Mr.  Heathcliff  lately  f' 

"  Heathcliff  frequently  visits  at  the  Grange,"  replied  I, 
"  though  more  on  the  strength  of  the  mistress  having  known 
him  when  a  boy,  than  because  the  master  likes  his  company. 
At  present,  he's  discharged  from  the  trouble  of  calling  ;  owing 
to  some  presumptuous  aspirations  after  Miss  Linton  which  he 
manifested.     I  hardly  think  he'll  be  taken  in  again." 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  115 

"  And  does  Miss  Linton  turn  a  cold  shoulder  on  him  ?"  was 
the  doctor's  next  question. 

"  I'm  not  in  her  confidence,"  returned  I,  reluctant  to  con- 
tinue the  subject. 

"  No,  she's  a  sly  one,"  he  remarked,  shaking  his  head.  "  She 
keeps  her  own  counsel !  But  she's  a  real  little  fool.  I  have  it 
from  good  authority,  that,  last  night,  and  a  pretty  night  it  was ! 
she  and  Heathcliff  were  walking  in  the  plantation  at  the  back 
of  your  house  above  two  hours ;  and  he  pressed  her  not  to  go 
in  again,  but  just  mount  his  horse  and  away  with  him !  My 
informant  said  she  could  only  put  him  off  by  pledging  her  word 
of  honor  to  be  prepared  on  their  first  meeting  after  that ;  when 
it  was  to  be,  he  did'nt  hear,  but  you  urge  Mr.  Linton  to  look 
sharp  !" 

This  news  filled  me  with  fresh  fears  ;  I  outstripped  Kenneth, 
and  ran  most  of  the  way  back.  The  little  dog  was  yelping  in 
the  garden  yet.  I  spared  a  minute  to  open  the  gate  for  it,  but 
instead  of  going  to  the  house  door,  it  coursed  up  and  down, 
snuffing  the  grass,  and  would  have  escaped  to  the  road,  had  I 
not  seized  and  conveyed  it  in  with  me. 

On  ascending  to  Isabella's  room,  my  suspicions  were  con- 
firmed ;  it  was  empty.  Had  I  been  a  few  hours  sooner,  Mrs. 
Linton's  illness  might  have  arrested  her  rash  step.  But  what 
could  be  done  now]  There  was  a  bare  possibility  of  over- 
taking them  if  pursued  instantly.  I  could  not  pursue  them, 
however;  and  I  dare  not  rouse  the  family,  and  fill  the  place 
with  confusion ;  still  less  unfold  the  business  to  my  master,  ab- 
sorbed as  he  was  in  his  present  calamity,  and  having  no  heart 
to  spare  for  a  second  grief! 

I  saw  nothing  for  it,  but  to  hold  my  tongue,  and  suffer  mat- 
ters to  take  their  course ;  and  Kenneth  being  arrived,  I  went 
with  a  badly  composed  countenance  to  announce  him. 

Catherine  lay  in  a  troubled  sleep;  her  husband  had  suc- 
ceeded in  soothing  the  access  of  frenzy  ;  he  now  hung  over 
her  pillow,  watching  every  shade,  and  every  change  of  her 
painfully  expressive  features. 

The  doctor,  on  examining  the  case  for  himself,  spoke  hope- 
fully to  him  of  its  having  a  favorable  termination,  if  we  could 
only  preserve  around  her  perfect  and  constant  tranquillity.  To 
me,  he  signified  the  threatening  danger  was,  not  so  much  death 
as  permanent  alienation  of  intellect. 

I  did  not  close  my  eyes  that  night,  nor  did  Mr.  Linton ;  in- 


116  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

deed,  we  never  went  to  bed ;  and  the  servants  were  all  up  long 
before  the  usual  hour,  moving  through  the  house  with  stealthy- 
tread,  and  exchanging  whispers  as  they  encountered  each  other 
in  their  vocations.  Every  one  was  active  but  Miss  Isabella; 
and  they  began  to  remark  how  sound  she  slept.  Her  brother 
too  asked  if  she  had  risen,  and  seemed  impatient  for  her 
presence,  and  hurt  that  she  showed  so  little  anxiety  for  her 
sister-in-law. 

I  trembled  lest  he  should  send  me  to  call  her;  but  I  was 
spared  the  pain  of  being  the  first  proclaimant  of  her  flight.  One 
of  the  maids,  a  thoughtless  girl,  who  had  been  on  an  early 
errand  to  Gimmerton,  came  panting  up-stairs,  open-mouthed, 
and  dashed  into  the  chamber,  crying, 

"  Oh,  dear,  dear !  What  mun  we  have  next  1  Master, 
master,  our  young  lady — " 

"  Hold  your  noise  !"  cried  I  hastily,  enraged  at  her  clamorous 
manner. 

"  Speak  lower,  Mary.  What  is  the  matter  V  said  Mr.  Linton. 
"  What  ails  your  young  lady  ?" 

"  She's  gone,  she's  gone  !  Yon'  Heathcliff's  run  off  wi'  her!" 
gasped  the  girl. 

"  That  is  not  true !"  exclaimed  Linton,  rising  in  agitation. 
"  It  can  not  be.  How  has  the  idea  entered  your  head  %  Ellen 
Dean,  go  and  seek  her — it  is  incredible — it  can  not  be." 

As  he  spoke,  he  took  the  servant  to  the  door,  and  then  re- 
peated his  demand  to  know  her  reasons  for  such  an  assertion. 

"  Why,  I  met  on  the  road  a  lad  that  fetches  milk  here,"  she 
stammered,  "  and  he  asked  whether  we  wern't  in  trouble  at  the 
Grange.  I  thought  he  meant  for  Missis's  sickness,  so  I  answered, 
yes.  Then  says  he,  'They's  somebody  gone  after  'em,  I  guess.' 
I  stared.  He  saw  I  knew  naught  about  it,  and  he  told  how  a 
gentleman  and  lady  had  stopped  to  have  a  horse's  shoe  fastened 
at  a  blacksmith's  shop,  two  miles  out  of  Gimmerton,  not  very 
long  after  midnight !  and  how  the  blacksmith's  lass  had  got  up 
to  spy  who  they  were ;  she  knew  them  both  directly.  And  she 
noticed  the  man.  Heathcliff  it  was,  she  felt  certain,  nob'dy 
could  mistake  him ;  besides  he  put  a  sovereign  in  her  father's 
hand  for  payment.  The  lady  had  a  cloak  about  her  face  ;  but 
having  desired  a  sup  of  water,  while  she  drank  it  fell  back,  and 
she  saw  her  very  plain.  Heathcliff  held  both  bridles  as  they 
rode  on,  and  they  set  their  faces  from  the  village,  and  went  as 
fast  as  the  rough  roads  would  let  them.     The  lass  said  nothing 


WUTHEEING      HEIGHTS.  117 

to   her  father,  but  she  told  it  all  over  Gimmerton  this  morn- 
ing." 

I  ran  and  peeped,  for  form's  sake,  into  Isabella's  room :  con 
firming,  when  I  returned,  the  servant's  statement.     Mr.  Linton 
had  resumed  his  seat  by  the  bed ;  on  my  re-entrance,  he  raised 
his  eyes,  read  the  meaning  of  my  blank  aspect,  and  dropped 
them  without  giving  an  order,  or  uttering  a  word. 

"  Are  we  to  try  any  measures  for  overtaking  and  bringing 
her  back,"    I  inquired.     "  How  should  we  do  ]" 

"  She  went  of  her  own  accord,"  answered  the  master;  "she 
had  a  right  to  go  if  she  pleased.  Trouble  me  no  more  about 
her.  Hereafter  she  is  only  my  sister  in  name ;  not  because  I 
disown  her,  but  because  she  has  disowned  me." 

And  that  was  all  he  said  on  the  subject ;  he  did  not  make  a 
single  inquiry  further,  or  mention  her  in  any  way,  except  direct- 
ing me  to  send  what  property  she  had  in  the  house  to  her  fresh 
home,  wherever  it  was,  when  I  knew  it. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

For  two  months  the  fugitives  remained  absent ;  in  those  two 
months  Mrs.  Linton  encountered  and  conquered  the  worst  shock 
of  what  was  denominated  a  brain  fever.  No  mother  could  have 
nursed  an  only  child  more  devotedly  than  Edgar  tended  her. 
Day  and  night  he  was  watching,  and  patiently  enduring  all  the 
annoyances  that  irritable  nerves  and  a  shaken  reason  could  in- 
flict :  and,  though  Kenneth  remarked  that  what  he  saved  from 
the  grave  would  only  recompense  his  care  by  forming  the  source 
of  constant  future  anxiety ;  in  fact,  that  his  health  and  strength 
were  being  sacrificed  to  preserve  a  mere  ruin  of  humanity,  he 
knew  no  limits  in  gratitude  and  joy  when  Catherine's  life  was 
declared  out  of  danger;  and  hour  after  hour  he  would  sit  be- 
side her,  tracing  the  gradual  return  to  bodily  health,  and  flatter- 
ing his  too  sanguine  hopes  with  the  illusion  that  her  mind  would 
settle  back  to  its  right  balance  also,  and  she  would  soon  be  en- 
tirely her  former  self. 

The  first  time  she  left  her  chamber,  was  at  the  commencement 
of  the  following  March.     Mr.  Linton  had  put  on  her  pillow,  in 


118  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

the  morning,  a  handful  of  golden  crocuses ;  her  eye,  long  stranger 
to  any  gleam  of  pleasure,  caught  them  in  waking,  and  shone  de- 
lighted as  she  gathered  them,  eagerly  together. 

"These  are  the  earliest  flowers  at  the  Heights!"  she  ex- 
claimed. "  They  remind  me  of  soft  thaw  winds,  and  warm  sun- 
shine, and  nearly  melted  snow.  Edgar,  is  there  not  a  south 
wind,  and  is  not  the  snow  almost  gone  ]" 

"  The  snow  is  quite  gone  ;  down  here,  darling !"  replied  her 
husband,  "  and  I  only  see  two  white  spots  on  the  whole  range 
of  moors.  The  sky  is  blue,  and  the  larks  are  singing,  and  the 
becks  and  brooks  are  all  brim  full.  Catherine,  last  spring  at  this 
time,  I  was  longing  to  have  you  under  this  roof — now,  I  wish 
you  were  a  mile  or  two  up  those  hills,  the  air  blows  so  sweetly, 
I  feel  that  it  would  cure  you." 

"I  shall  never  be  there,  but  once  more!"  said  the  invalid; 
"  and  then  you'll  leave  me,  and  I  shall  remain,  for  ever.  Next 
spring  you'll  long  again  to  have  me  under  this  roof,  and  you'll 
look  back,  and  think  you  were  happy  to-day." 

Linton  lavished  on  her  the  kindest  caresses,  and  tried  to  cheer 
her  by  the  fondest  words ;  but,  vaguely  regarding  the  flowers, 
she  let  the  tears  collect  on  her  lashes,  and  stream  down  her 
cheeks  unheeded. 

We  knew  she  was  really  better,  and  therefore  decided  that 
long  confinement  to  a  single  place  produced  much  of  this  de- 
spondency, and  it  might  be  partially  removed  by  a  change  of 
scene. 

The  master  told  me  to  light  a  fire  in  the  many  weeks'  desert- 
ed parlor,  and  to  set  an  easy  chair  in  the  sunshine  by  the  win- 
dow ;  and  then  he  brought  her  down,  and  she  sat  a  long  while, 
enjoying  the  genial  heat,  and,  as  we  expected,  revived  by  the 
objects  round  her,  which,  though  familiar,  were  free  from  the 
dreary  associations  investing  her  hated  sick-chamber.  By  even- 
ing she  seemed  greatly  exhausted;  yet  no  arguments  could 
persuade  her  to  return  to  that  apartment,  and  I  had  to  arrange 
the  parlor  sofa  for  her  bed,  till  another  room  could  be  pre- 
pared. 

To  obviate  the  fatigue  of  mounting  and  descending  the  stairs, 
we  fitted  up  this,  where  you  lie  at  present,  on  the  same  floor 
with  the  parlor :  and  she  was  soon  strong  enough  to  move  from 
one  to  the  other,  leaning  on  Edgar's  arm. 

Ah,  I  thought  myself  she  might  recover,  so  waited  on  as  she 
was.     And  there  was  double  cause  to  desire  it,  for  on  her  exist- 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  119 

ence  depended  that  of  another;  we  cherished  the  hope  that  in 
a  little  while  Mr.  Linton's  heart  would  be  gladdened,  and  his 
lands  secured  from  a  stranger's  gripe,  by  the  birth  of  an  heir. 

I  should  mention  that  Isabella  sent  to  her  brother,  some  six 
weeks  from  her  departure,  a  short  note,  announcing  her  mar- 
riage with  HeathclifF.  It  appeared  dry  and  cold  ;  but  at  the 
bottom  was  dotted  in  with  pencil  an  obscure  apology,  and  an 
entreaty  for  kind  remembrance  and  reconciliation,  if  her  pro- 
ceeding had  offended  him,  asserting  that  she  could  not  help  it 
then,  and,  being  done,  she  had  now  no  power  to  repeal  it. 

Linton  did  not  reply  to  this,  I  believe ;  and  in  a  fortnight 
more  I  got  a  long  letter  which  I  considered  odd,  coming  from 
the  pen  of  a  bride  just  out  of  the  honeymoon.  I'll  read  it,  for  I 
keep  it  yet.  Any  relic  of  the  dead  is  precious,  if  they  were 
valued  living.     It  begins — 

"  Dear  Ellen, 

"  I  came  last  night  to  Wuthering  Heights,  and  heard,  for  the 
first  time,  that  Catherine  has  been,  and  is  yet,  very  ill.  I  must 
not  write  to  her,  I  suppose,  and  my  brother  is  either  too  angry 
or  too  distressed  to  answer  what  I  sent  him.  Still,  I  must  write 
to  somebody,  and  the  only  choice  left  me  is  you. 

"  Inform  Edgar  that  I'd  give  the  world  to  see  his  face  again 
— that  my  heart  returned  to  Thrushcross  Grange  in  twenty-four 
hours  after  I  left  it,  and  is  there  at  this  moment,  full  of  warm 
feelings  for  him  and  Catherine  !  I  canH  follow  it  though — 
(those  words  are  underlined) — they  need  not  expect  me,  and 
they  may  draw  what  conclusions  they  please,  taking  care,  how- 
ever, to  lay  nothing  at  the  door  of  my  weak  will  or  deficient 
affection. 

"  The  remainder  of  the  letter  is  for  yourself  alone.  I  want  to 
ask  you  two  questions  :  the  first  is — 

"  How  did  you  contrive  to  preserve  the  common  sympathies 
of  human  nature  when  you  resided  here  ]  I  can  not  recognize 
any  sentiment  which  those  around  share  with  me. 

"  The  second  question  I  have  great  interest  in :  it  is  this — 

"  Is  Mr.  Heathcliff  a  man  1  If  so,  is  he  mad  ]  And  if  not,  is 
he  a  devil !  I  shan't  tell  my  reasons  for  making  this  inquiry ; 
but  I  beseech  you  to  explain,  if  you  can,  what  I  have  married 
— that  is,  when  you  call  to  see  me ;  and  you  must  call,  Ellen, 
very  soon.  Don't  write,  but  come,  and  bring  me  something 
from  Edgar. 


120  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  Now  you  sliall  hear  how  I  have  been  received  in  my  new 
home,  as  I  am  led  to  imagine  the  Heights  will  be.  It  is  to 
amuse  myself  that  I  dwell  on  such  subjects  as  the  lack  of  exter- 
nal comforts  ;  they  never  occupy  my  thoughts  except  at  the  mo- 
ment when  I  miss  them.  I  should  laugh  and  dance  for  joy  if  I 
found  their  absence  was  the  total  of  my  miseries,  and  the  rest 
was  an  unnatural  dream  ! 

"  The  sun  set  behind  the  Grange,  as  we  turned  upon  the 
moors  ;  by  that  I  judged  it  to  be  six  o'clock ;  and  my  compan- 
ion halted  half-an-hour  to  inspect  the  park  and  the  gardens, 
and,  probably,  the  place  itself,  as  well  as  he  could ;  so  it  was 
dark  when  we  dismounted  in  the  paved  yard  of  the  farmhouse, 
and  your  old  fellow-servant,  Joseph,  issued  out  to  receive  us  by 
the  light  of  a  dip  candle.  He  did  it  with  a  courtesy  that  re- 
dounded to  his  credit.  His  first  act  was  to  elevate  his  torch  to 
a  level  with  my  face,  squint  malignantly,  project  his  under  lip, 
and  turn  away. 

"  Then  he  took  the  two  horses  and  led  them  into  the  stables, 
reappearing  for  the  purpose  of  locking  the  outer  gate,  as  if  we 
lived  in  an  ancient  castle. 

"  Heathcliff  staid  to  speak  to  him,  and  I  entered  the  kitchen 
— a  dingy,  untidy  hole ;  I  dare  say  you  would  not  know  it,  it 
is  so  changed  since  it  was  in  your  charge. 

"  By  the  fire  stood  a  ruffianly  child,  strong  in  limb  and  dirty 
in  garb,  with  a  look  of  Catherine  in  his  eyes  and  about  his 
mouth. 

" '  This  is  Edgar's  legal  nephew,'  I  reflected — '  mine  in  a 
manner ;  I  must  shake  hands,  and — yes — I  must  kiss  him.  It 
is  right  to  establish  a  good  understanding  at  the  beginning.' 

"I  approached,  and,  attempting  to  take  his  chubby  fist,  said, 

"'How  do  you  do,  my  dear?' 

"  He  replied  in  a  jargon  I  did  not  comprehend. 

if '  Shall  you  and  I  be  friends,  Hareton  V  was  my  next  essay 
at  conversation. 

"  An  oath,  and  a  threat  to  set  Throttler  on  me  if  I  did  not 
1  frame  off,'  rewarded  my  perseverance. 

" '  Hey,  Throttler,  lad  !'  whispered  the  little  wretch,  rousing 
a  half-bred  bull-dog  from  its  lair  in  a  corner.  '  Now,  wilt  tuh 
be  ganging  V  he  asked,  authoritatively. 

"  Love  for  my  life  urged  a  compliance ;  I  stepped  over  the 
threshold  to  wait  till  the  others  should  enter.  Mr.  Heathcliff 
was  nowhere  visible;  and  Joseph,  whom  I  followed  to  the  sta- 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  121 

bles,  and  requested  to  accompany  me  in,  after  staring  and  mut- 
tering to  himself,  screwed  up  his  nose  and  replied — 

"  '  Mim  !  mim  !  mim  !  .  Did  iver  Christian  body  hear  owt  like 
it?     Minching  un'  munching!     Hah  can  aw  tell  whet  ye  say  V 

"  '  I  say,  I  wish  you  to  come  with  me  into  the  house  !'  I  cried, 
thinking  him  deaf,  yet  highly  disgusted  at  his  rudeness. 

"  '  Nor  nuh  me  !  Aw  getten  summut  else  to  do,'  he  answered, 
and  continued  his  work,  moving  his  lantern  jaws  meanwhile,  and 
surveying  my  dress  and  countenance  (the  former  a  great  deal 
too  fine,  but  the  latter,  I'm  sure,  as  sad  as  he  could  desire)  with 
sovereign  contempt. 

*  I  walked  round  the  yard,  and  through  a  wicket,  to  another 
door,  at  which  I  took  the  liberty  of  knocking,  in  hopes  some 
more  civil  servant  might  show  himself. 

"  After  a  short  suspense  it  was  opened  by  a  tall,  gaunt  man, 
without  neckerchief,  and  otherwise  extremely  slovenly ;  his 
features  were  lost  in  masses  of  shaggy  hair  that  hung  on  his 
shoulders;  and  his  eyes,  too,  were  like  a  ghostly  Catherine's, 
with  all  their  beauty  annihilated. 

"  '  What's  your  business  here  V  he  demanded,  grimly.  'Who 
are  you  V 

"  '  My  name  was  Isabella  Linton,'  I  replied.  '  You've  seen 
me  before,  sir.  I'm  lately  married  to  Mr.  Heathcliff;  and  he 
has  brought  me  here — I  suppose  by  your  permission.' 

" '  Is  he  come  back,  then  V  asked  the  hermit,  glaring  like  a 
hungry  wolf. 

"  '  Yes — we  came  just  now,'  I  said ;  '  but  he  left  me  by  the 
kitchen  door;  and  when  I  would  have  gone  in,  your  little  boy 
played  sentinel  over  the  place,  and  frightened  me  off  by  the  help 
of  a  bull-dog.' 

"'It's  well  the  hellish  villain  has  kept  his  word!'  growled 
my  future  host,  searching  the  darkness  beyond  me  in  expecta- 
tion of  discovering  Heathcliff,  and  then  he  indulged  in  a  soliloquy 
of  execrations,  and  threats  of  what  he  would  have  done  had  the 
1  fiend'  deceived  him. 

"  I  repented  having  tried  this  second  entrance  ;  and  was  almost 
inclined  to  slip  away  before  he  finished  cursing,  but  ere  I  could 
execute  that  intention,  he  ordered  me  in,  and  shut  and  re-fastened 
the  door. 

"  There  was  a  great  fire,  and  that  was  all  the  light  in  the  huge 
apartment,  whose  floor  had  grown  a  uniform  gray ;  and  the  once 
brilliant  pewter  dishes,  which  used  to  attract  my  gaze  when  I 

F 


122  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

was  a  girl,  partook  of  a  similar  obscurity,  created  by  tarnish  and 
dust. 

"  I  inquired  whether  I  might  call  the  maid,  and  be  conducted 
to  a  bed-room  %  Mr.  Earnshaw  vouchsafed  no  answer.  He 
walked  up  and  down,  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  apparently 
quite  forgetting  my  presence  ;  and  his  abstraction  was  evidently 
so  deep,  and  his  whole  aspect  so  misanthropical,  that  I  shrank 
from  disturbing  him  again. 

"  You'll  not  be  surprised,  Ellen,  at  my  feeling  particularly 
cheerless,  seated  in  worse  than  solitude,  on  that  inhospitable 
hearth,  and  remembering  that  four  miles  distant  lay  my  delight- 
ful home,  containing  the  only  people  I  loved  on  earth  :  and 
there  might  as  well  be  the  Atlantic  to  part  us,  instead  of  those 
four  miles.     I  could  not  overpass  them  ! 

"  I  questioned  with  myself— Where  must  I  turn  for  comfort  1 
and — mind  you  don't  tell  Edgar,  or  Catherine — above  every 
sorrow  beside,  this  rose  pre-eminent — despair  at  finding  nobody 
who  could  or  would  be  my  ally  against  Heathcliff ! 

"  I  had  sought  shelter  at  Wuthering  Heights,  almost  gladly, 
because  I  was  secured  by  that  arrangement  from  living  alone 
with  him;  but  he  knew  the  people  we  were  coming  among, 
and  he  did  not  fear  their  intermeddling. 

"  I  sat  and  thought  a  doleful  time  ;  the  clock  struck  eight,  and 
nine,  and  still  my  companion  paced  to  and  fro,  his  head  bent  on 
his  breast,  and  perfectly  silent,  unless  a  groan,  or  a  bitter  ejacu- 
lation forced  itself  out  at  intervals. 

"  I  listened  to  detect  a  woman's  voice  in  the  house,  and  filled 
the  interim  with  wild  regrets,  and  dismal  anticipations,  which, 
at  last,  spoke  audibly  in  irrepressible  sighing,  and  weeping. 

"  I  was  not  aware  how  openly  I  grieved,  till  Earnshaw  halted 
opposite,  in  his  measured  walk,  and  gave  me  a  stare  of  newly 
awakened  surprise.  Taking  advantage  of  his  recovered  atten- 
tion, I  exclaimed — 

" '  I'm  tired  with  my  journey,  and  I  want  to  go  to  bed  ! 
Where  is  the  maid-servant  ]  Direct  me  to  her,  as  she  won't 
come  to  me !' 

"  ■  We  have  none,'  he  answered ;  '  you  must  wait  on  yourself!' 

"  •  Where  must  I  sleep,  then  V  I  sobbed.  I  was  beyond  re- 
garding self-respect,  weighed  down  by  fatigue  and  wretched- 
ness. 

"  '  Joseph  will  show  you  Heathcliff 's  chamber,'  said  he ;  *  open 
that  door — he's  in  there.' 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  123 

" ■  I  was  going  to  obey,  but  he  suddenly  arrested  me,  and 
added  in  the  strangest  tone — 

" '  Be  so  good  as  to  turn  your  lock,  and  draw  your  bolt — 
don't  omit  it !' 

"  '  Well !'  I  said.  '  But  why,  Mr.  Earnshaw  V  I  did  not  relish 
the  notion  of  deliberately  fastening  myself  in  with  Heathcliff. 

"  '  Look  here  !'  he  replied,  pulling  from  his  waistcoat  a  curi- 
ously constructed  pistol,  having  a  double  edged  spring  knife 
attached  to  the  barrel.  '  That's  a  great  tempter  to  a  desperate 
man,  is  it  not  %  I  can  not  resist  going  up  with  this,  every  night, 
and  trying  his  door  :  if  once  I  find  it  open,  he's  done  for  !  1  do 
it  invariably,  even  though  the  minute  before  I  have  been  recall- 
ing a  hundred  reasons  that  should  make  me  refrain — it  is  some 
devil  that  urges  me  to  thwart  my  own  schemes  by  killing  him. 
You  fight  against  the  devil,  for  love,  as  long  as  you  may ;  when 
the  time  comes,  not  all  the  angels  in  heaven  shall  save  him  ! 

"  I  surveyed  the  weapon  inquisitively  ;  a  hideous  notion  struck 
me.  How  powerful  I  should  be  possessing  such  an  instrument ! 
I  took  it  from  his  hand,  and  touched  the  blade.  He  looked 
astonished  at  the  expression  my  face  assumed  during  a  brief 
second.  It  was  not  horror,  it  was  covetousness.  He  snatched 
the  pistol  back,  jealously ;  shut  the  knife,  and  returned  it  to  its 
concealment. 

" '  I  don't  care  if  you  tell  him,'  said  he.  '  Put  him  on  his 
guard,  and  watch  for  him.  You  know  the  terms  we  are  on,  1 
see ;  his  danger  does  not  shock  you.' 

"  *  What  has  Heathcliff  done  to  you  V  I  asked.  '  In  what  has 
he  wronged  you,  to  warrant  this  appalling  hatred  %  Wouldn't 
it  be  wiser  to  bid  him  quit  the  house  V 

" i  No,'  thundered  Eamshaw,  '  should  he  offer  to  leave  me, 
he's  a  dead  man  ;  persuade  him  to  attempt  it,  and  you  are  a 
murderess !  Am  I  to  lose  all,  without  a  chance  of  retrieval  ? 
Is  Hareton  to  be  a  beggar  1  Oh,  damnation !  I  will  have  it 
back  ;  and  I'll  have  his  gold  too  ;  and  then  his  blood  ;  and  hell 
shall  have  his  soul !  It  will  be  ten  times  blacker  with  that 
guest  than  ever  it  was  before  !' 

"  You've  acquainted  me,  Ellen,  with  your  old  master's  habits. 
He  is  clearly  on  the  verge  of  madness — he  was  so,  last  night,  at 
least.  I  shuddered  to  be  near  him,  and  thought  on  the  servant's 
ill-bred  moroseness  as  comparatively  agreeable. 

"  He  now  recommenced  his  moody  walk,  and  I  raised  the 
latch,  and  escaped  into  the  kitchen. 


124  WUTHERING       HEIGHTS. 

"  Joseph  was  bending  over  the  fire,  peering  into  a  large  pan 
that  swung  above  it;  and  a  wooden  bowl  of  oatmeal  stood  on 
the  settle  close  by.  The  contents  of  the  pan  began  to  boil,  and 
he  turned  to  plunge  his  hand  into  the  bowl;  I  conjectured  that 
this  preparation  was  probably  for  our  supper,  and,  being  hungry, 
I  resolved  it  should  be  eatable — so  crying  out,  sharply — '  Til 
make  the  porridge  !'  I  removed  the  vessel  out  of  his  reach, 
and  proceeded  to  take  off  my  hat  and  riding  habit.  '  Mr.  Earn- 
shaw,'  I  continued, '  directs  me  to  wait  on  myself — I  will.  I'm 
not  going  to  act  the  lady  among  you,  for  fear  1  should  starve.' 

"  '  Gooid  Lord  !'  he  muttered,  sitting  down,  and  stroking  his 
ribbed  stockings  from  the  knee  to  the  ankle.  '  If  they's  tuh  be 
fresh  ortherings — just  when  aw  getten  used  tuh  two  maisters,  if 
aw  mun  hev  a  mistress  set  o'er  my  heead,  it's  loike  time  tuh  be 
flitting.  Aw  niver  did  think  tuh  say  t'  day  ut  aw  mud  lave  th' 
owld  place — but  aw  daht  it's  nigh  at  hend  !' 

"  This  lamentation  drew  no  notice  from  me  ;  I  went  briskly 
to  work ;  sighing  to  remember  a  period  when  it  would  have 
been  all  merry  fun  ;  but  compelled  speedily  to  drive  off  the 
remembrance.  It  racked  me  to  recall  past  happiness,  and  the 
greater  peril  there  was  of  conjuring  up  its  apparition,  the  quicker 
the  thible  ran  round,  and  the  faster  the  handfuls  of  meal  fell 
into  the  water. 

"  Joseph  beheld  my  style  of  cookery  with  growing  indigna- 
tion. 

"  '  Thear  !'  he  ejaculated.  '  Hareton,  thah  will'nt  sup  thy 
porridge  tuh  neeght ;  they'll  be  nowt  bud  lumps  as  big  as  maw 
nave.  Thear,  agean !  Aw'd  fling  in  bowl  un  all,  if  aw  wer 
yah !  Thear,  pale  t'  guilp  off,  un'  then  yah'll  hae  done  wi't. 
Bang,  bang.     It's  a  marcy  t'  bothom  isn't  deaved  aht!' 

"  It  was  rather  a  rough  mess,  I  own,  when  poured  into  the 
basins  ;  four  had  been  provided,  and  a  gallon  pitcher  of  new 
milk  was  brought  from  the  dairy,  which  Hareton  seized,  and 
commenced  drinking  and  spilling  from  the  expansive  lip. 

"  I  expostulated,  and  desired  that  he  should  have  his  in  a 
mug  ;  affirming  that  I  could  not  taste  the  liquid  treated  so  dirtily. 
The  old  cynic  chose  to  be  vastly  offended  at  this  nicety;  as- 
suring me,  repeatedly,  that  '  the  bairn  was  every  bit  as  gooid'  as 
I,  '  and  every  bit  as  wollsome,'  and  wondering  how  I  could 
fashion  to  be  so  conceited;  meanwhile,  the  infant  ruffian  con- 
tinued sucking ;  and  glowered  up  at  me  defyingly,  as  he  slavered 
into  the  jug. 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  125 

" '  I  shall  have  my  supper  in  another  room,'  I  said.  *  Have 
you  no  place  you  call  a  parlor  V 

"  'Parlor  /'  he  echoed,  sneeringly, ' parlor  /  Nay,  we've  noa 
parlors.  If  yah  dunnut  loike  wer  company,  they's  maister's ; 
un'  if  yah  dunnut  loike  maister,  they's  us.' 

"  '  Then  I  shall  go  up-stairs,'  I  answered ;  '  show  me  a  cham- 
ber!' 

"  I  put  my  basin  on  a  tray,  and  went  myself  to  fetch  some 
more  milk. 

"  With  great  grumblings,  the  fellow  rose,  and  preceded  me 
in  my  ascent :  we  mounted  to  the  garrets ;  he  opening  a  door, 
now  and  then,  to  look  into  the  apartments  we  passed. 

"  '  Here's  a  rahm,'  he  said,  at  last,  flinging  back  a  cranky 
board  on  hinges.  *  It's  weel  eneugh  tuh  ate  a  few  porridge  in. 
They's  a  pack  uh  corn  i'  t'  corner,  thear,  meeterly  clane ;  if 
yah 're  feared  uh  muckying  yer  grand  silk  does,  spread  yer 
hankerchir  ut  t'  top  on't.' 

"  The  *  rahm'  was  a  kind  of  lumber-hole  smelling  strong  of 
malt  and  grain ;  various  sacks  of  which  articles  were  piled 
around,  leaving  a  wide,  bare  space  in  the  middle. 

"  '  Why,  man  !'  I  exclaimed,  facing  him  angrily,  '  this  is  not  a 
place  to  sleep  in.     I  wish  to  see  my  bed-room.' 

"  *  Bed-rume  /'  he  repeated,  in  a  tone  of  mockery.  *  Yah's 
see  all  t'  heol-rumes  thear  is — yon's  mine.' 

"  He  pointed  into  the  second  garret,  only  differing  from  the 
first  in  being  more  naked  about  the  walls,  and  having  a  large, 
low,  eurtainless  bed,  with  an  indigo-colored  quilt,  at  one  end. 

"  '  What  do  I  want  with  yours  V  I  retorted.  '  I  suppose  Mr. 
Heathcliff  does  not  lodge  at  the  top  of  the  house,  does  he  V 

"  '  Oh  !  it's  Maister  Heathcliff's  yah're  wenting  f  cried  he, 
as  if  making  a  new  discovery.  '  Couldn't  ye  uh  said  soa,  at 
onst  %  un  then,  aw  mud  uh  telled  ye,  baht  all  this  wark,  ut  that's 
just  one  yah  cannut  sea — he  alias  keeps  it  locked,  un'  nob'dy 
iver  mells  on't  but  hisseln.' 

"  '  You've  a  nice  house,  Joseph,'  I  could  not  refrain  from 
observing,  *  and  pleasant  inmates  ;  and  I  think  the  concentrated 
essence  of  all  the  madness  in  the  world  took  up  its  abode  in  my 
brain  the  day  I  linked  my  fate  with  theirs!  However,  that  is 
not  to  the  present  purpose — there  are  other  rooms.  For  heav- 
en's sake,  be  quick,  and  let  me  settle  somewhere  !' 

"  He  made  no  reply  to  this  adjuration  ;  only  plodding  dog- 
gedly down  the  wooden  steps,  and  halting  before  an  apartment 


126  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

which,  from  that  halt,  and  the  superior  quality  of  its  furniture,  I 
conjectured  to  be  the  best  one. 

"  There  was  a  carpet,  a  good  one;  but  the  pattern  was  ob- 
literated by  dust;  a  fireplace  hung  with  cut  paper,  dropping 
to  pieces ;  a  handsome  oak  bedstead  with  ample  crimson  cur- 
tains of  rather  expensive  material,  and  modern  make.  But 
they  had  evidently  experienced  rough  usage,  the  valances  hung 
in  festoons,  wrenched  from  their  rings;  and  the  iron  rod  sup- 
porting them  was  bent  in  an  arc,  on  one  side,  causing  the  drapery 
to  trail  upon  the  floor.  The  chairs  were  also  damaged,  many 
of  them  severely ;  and  deep  indentations  deformed  the  panels 
of  the  walls. 

"  I  was  endeavoring  to  gather  resolution  for  entering,  and 
taking  possession,  when  my  fool  of  a  guide  announced — 

"  t  This  here  is  t'  maister's.' 

"  My  supper  by  this  time  was  cold,  my  appetite  gone,  and 
my  patience  exhausted.  I  insisted  on  being  provided  instantly 
with  a  place  of  refuge,  and  means  of  repose. 

"  '  Whear  the  divil,'  began  the  religious  elder.  '  The  Lord 
bless  us  !  The  Lord  forgie  us !  Whear  the  hell,  wold  ye 
gang]  ye  marred,  wearisome  nowt!  Yah  seen  all  bud  Hare- 
ton's  bit  uf  a  cham'er.  They's  nut  another  hoile  tuh  lig  dahn 
in  i'  th'  hahse  !' 

"I  was  so  vexed,  I  flung  my  tray,  and  its  contents  on  the 
ground ;  and  then  seated  myself  at  the  stair's  head,  hid  my  face 
in  my  hands,  and  cried. 

"  '  Ech  !  ech  !'  exclaimed  Joseph.  '  Weel  done,  Miss  Cathy  ! 
Hahsiver,  t'  maister  sail  just  tum'le  o'er  them  brocken  pots; 
un'  then  we's  hear  summut ;  we's  hear  hah  it's  tuh  be.  Gooid- 
fur-nowt  madling !  yah  desarve  pining  froo  this  tuh  Churstmas, 
flinging  t'  precious  gifts  uh  God  under  fooit  i'  yer  flaysome 
rages !  Bud,  aw'm  mista'en  if  yah  shew  yer  sperrit  lang. 
Will  Heathcliff  bide  sich  bonny  ways,  think  ye  1  Aw  nobbut 
wish  he  muh  cotch  ye  i'  that  plisky.     Aw  nobbut  wish  he  may.' 

"  And  so  he  went  scolding  to  his  den  beneath,  taking  the 
candle  with  him,  and  I  remained  in  the  dark. 

"  The  period  of  reflection  succeeding  this  silly  action,  com- 
pelled me  to  admit  the  necessity  of  smothering  my  pride,  and 
choking  my  wrath,  and  bestirring  myself  to  remove  its  effects. 

11  An  unexpected  aid  presently  appeared  in  the  shape  of 
Throttler,  whom  I  now  recognized  as  a  son  of  our  old  Skulker ; 
it  had  spent  its  whelphood  at  the  Grange,  and  was  given  by  my 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  127 

father  to  Mr.  Hindley.  I  fancy  it  knew  me — it  pushed  its  nose 
against  mine  by  way  of  salute,  and  then  hastened  to  devour  the 
porridge,  while  I  groped  from  step  to  step,  collecting  the  shat- 
tered earthenware,  and  drying  the  spatters  of  milk  from  the 
bannister  with  my  pocket-handkerchief. 

"  Our  labors  were  scarcely  over  when  I  heard  Earnshaw's 
tread  in  the  passage  ;  my  assistant  tucked  in  his  tail,  and  pressed 
to  the  wall ;  I  stole  into  the  nearest  doorway.  The  dog's  en- 
deavor to  avoid  him  was  unsuccessful,  as  I  guessed  by  a  scutter 
down  stairs,  and  a  prolonged,  piteous  yelping.  I  had  better 
luck.     He  passed  on,  entered  his  chamber,  and  shut  the  door. 

"  Directly  after,  Joseph  came  up  with  Hareton,  to  put  him 
to  bed.  I  had  found  shelter  in  Hareton's  room,  and  the  old 
man  on  seeing  me,  said — 

" '  They's  rahm  fur  boath  yah,  un  yer  pride,  nah,  aw  sud 
think  i'  th'  hahse.  It's  empty ;  yah  muh  hev  it  all  tuh  yerseln, 
un  Him  as  alias  maks  a  third,  i'  sich  ill  company!" 

"  Gladly  did  I  take  advantage  of  this  intimation ;  and  the 
minute  I  flung  myself  into  a  chair,  by  the  fire,  I  nodded,  and 
slept. 

"  My  slumber  was  deep  and  sweet ;  though  over  far  too 
soon.  Mr.  Heathcliff  awoke  me;  he  had  just  come  in,  and 
demanded,  in  his  loving  manner,  what  I  was  doing  there  1 

"  I  told  him  the  cause  of  my  staying  up  so  late — that  he  had 
the  key  of  our  room  in  his  pocket. 

"  The  adjective  our  gave  mortal  offence.  He  swore  it  was 
not,  nor  never  should  be  mine ;  and  he'd — but  I'll  not  repeat 
his  language,  nor  describe  his  habitual  conduct ;  he  is  ingenious 
and  unresting  in  seeking  to  gain  my  abhorrence  !  I  sometimes 
wonder  at  him,  with  an  intensity  that  deadens  my  fear  :  yet, 
I  assure  you,  a  tiger,  or  a  venomous  serpent  could  not  rouse 
terror  in  me  equal  to  that  which  he  wakens.  He  told  me  of 
Catherine's  illness,  and  accused  my  brother  of  causing  it ; 
promising  that  I  should  be  Edgar's  proxy  in  suffering,  till  he 
could  get  a  hold  of  him. 

"  I  do  hate  him — I  am  wretched — I  have  been  a  fool !  Be- 
ware of  uttering  one  breath  of  this  to  any  one  at  the  Grange. 
I  shall  expect  you  every  day — don't  disappoint  me  ! 

"  Isabella." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

As  soon  as  I  had  perused  this  epistle,  I  went  to  the  master, 
and  informed  him  that  his  sister  had  arrived  at  the  Heights,  and 
sent  me  a  letter  expressing  her  sorrow  for  Mrs.  Linton's  situa- 
tion, and  her  ardent  desire  to  see  him ;  with  a  wish  that  he 
would  transmit  to  her,  as  early  as  possible,  some  token  of  for- 
giveness by  me. 

"  Forgiveness  V  said  Linton.  "  I  have  nothing  to  forgive 
her,  Ellen — you  may  call  at  Wuthering  Heights  this  afternoon, 
if  you  like,  and  say  that  I  am  not  angry,  but  I'm  sorry  to  have 
lost  her :  especially  as  I  can  never  think  she'll  be  happy.  It  is 
out  of  the  question  my  going  to  see  her,  however;  we  are  eter- 
nally divided ;  and  should  she  really  wish  to  oblige  me,  let  her 
persuade  the  villain  she  has  married  to  leave  the  country." 

"And  you  won't  write  her  a  little  note,  sir]"  I  asked,  implor- 
ingly. 

"No,"  he  answered;  "it  is  needless.  My  communication 
with  Heathcliff 's  family  shall  be  as  sparing  as  his  with  mine.  It 
shall  not  exist!" 

Mr.  Edgar's  coldness  depressed  me  exceedingly;  and  all  the 
way  from  the  Grange,  I  puzzled  my  brains  how  to  put  more 
heart  into  what  he  said,  when  I  repeated  it;  and  how  to  soften 
his  refusal  of  even  a  few  lines  to  console  Isabella. 

I  dare  say  she  had  been  on  the  watch  for  me  since  morning : 
I  saw  her  looking  through  the  lattice,  as  I  came  up  the  garden 
causeway,  and  I  nodded  to  her ;  but  she  drew  back,  as  if  afraid 
of  being  observed. 

I  entered  without  knocking.  There  never  was  such  a  dreary, 
dismal  scene  as  the  formerly  cheerful  house  presented  !  I  must 
confess  that,  if  I  had  been  in  the  young  lady's  place,  I  would  at 
least  have  swept  the  hearth,  and  wiped  the  tables  with  a  duster. 
But  she  already  partook  of  the  pervading  spirit  of  neglect  which 
encompassed  her.  Her  pretty  face  was  wan  and  listless ;  her 
hair  uncurled  ;  some  locks  hanging  lankly  down,  and  some  care- 
lessly twisted  round  her  head.  Probably  she  had  not  touched 
her  dress  since  yester-evening. 

Hindiey  was  not  there.     Mr.  Heathcliff  sat  at  a  table,  turning 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  129 

over  some  papers  in  his  pocket-book ;  but  he  rose  when  I  ap- 
peared, asked  me  how  I  did,  quite  friendly,  and  offered  me  a 
chair. 

He  was  the  only  thing  there  that  seemed  decent,  and  I  thought 
he  never  looked  better.  So  much  had  circumstances  altered 
their  positions,  that  he  would  certainly  have  struck  a  stranger 
as  a  bom  and  bred  gentleman,  and  his  wife  as  a  thorough  little 
slattern ! 

She  came  forward  eagerly  to  greet  me;  and  held  out  one 
hand  to  take  the  expected  letter. 

I  shook  my  head.  She  wouldn't  understand  the  hint,  but  fol- 
lowed me  to  a  sideboard,  where  I  went  to  lay  my  bonnet,  and 
importuned  me,  in  a  whisper,  to  give  her  directly  what  I  had 
brought. 

Heathcliff  guessed  the  meaning  of  her  manoeuvres,  and  said, 

"  If  you  have  got  any  thing  for  Isabella,  as  no  doubt  you 
have,  Nelly,  give  it  to  her.  You  needn't  make  a  secret  of  it ; 
we  have  no  secrets  between  us." 

"  Oh,  I  have  nothing,"  I  replied,  thinking  it  best  to  speak  the 
truth  at  once.  "  My  master  bid  me  tell  his  sister  that  she  must 
not  expect  either  a  letter  or  a  visit  from  him  at  present.  He 
sends  his  love,  ma'am,  and  his  wishes  for  your  happiness,  and  his 
pardon  for  the  grief  you  have  occasioned  ;  but  he  thinks  that 
after  this  time  his  household  and  the  household  here  should 
drop  intercommunication  ;  as  nothing  good  could  come  of  keep- 
ing it  up. 

Mrs.  Heathcliff's  lip  quivered  slightly,  and  she  returned  to 
her  seat  in  the  window.  Her  husband  took  his  stand  on  the 
hearthstone,  near  me,  and  began  to  put  questions  concerning 
Catherine. 

I  told  him  as  much  as  I  thought  proper  of  her  illness,  and  he 
extorted  from  me,  by  cross-examination,  most  of  the  facts  con- 
nected with  its  origin. 

I  blamed  her,  as  she  deserved,  for  bringing  it  all  on  herself; 
and  ended  by  hoping  that  he  would  follow  Mr.  Linton's  exam- 
ple, and  avoid  future  interference  with  his  family,  for  good  or 
evil. 

"  Mrs.  Linton  is  now  just  recovering,"  I  said  ;  "  she'll  never 
be  like  she  was,  but  her  life  is  spared,  and  if  you  really  have  a 
regard  for  her,  you'll  shun  crossing  her  way  again.  Nay,  you'll 
move  out  of  this  country  entirely;  and  that  you  may  not  regret 
it,  I'll  inform  you  Catherine  Linton  is  as  different  now  from 

F* 


130  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

your  old  friend  Catherine  Earnshaw  as  that  young  lady  is  dif- 
ferent from  me  !  Her  appearance  is  changed  greatly,  her  char- 
acter much  more  so  ;  and  the  person  who  is  compelled  of  neces- 
sity to  be  her  companion,  will  only  sustain  his  affection  hereafter 
by  the  remembrance  of  what  she  once  was,  by  common  human- 
ity, and  a  sense  of  duty!" 

"  That  is  quite  possible,"  remarked  Heathcliff,  forcing  himself 
to  seem  calm,  "  quite  possible  that  your  master  should  have 
nothing  but  common  humanity,  and  a  sense  of  duty  to  fall  back 
upon.  But  do  you  imagine  that  I  shall  leave  Catherine  to  his 
duty  and  humanity  ?  and  can  you  compare  my  feelings  respect- 
ing Catherine  to  his  %  Before  you  leave  this  house,  I  must  exact 
a  promise  from  you,  that  you'll  get  me  an  interview  with  her — 
consent  or  refuse,  I  will  see  her  !     What  do  you  say?" 

"  I  say  Mr.  Heathcliff,"  I  replied,  "  you  must  not — you  never 
shall  through  my  means.  Another  encounter  between  you  and 
the  master  would  kill  her  altogether!" 

"  With  your  aid  that  may  be  avoided,"  he  continued  ;  "  and 
should  there  be  danger  of  such  an  event — should  he  be  the  cause 
of  adding  a  single  trouble  more  to  her  existence — why,  I  think 
I  shall  be  justified  in  going  to  extremes  !  I  wish  you  had  sin- 
cerity enough  to  tell  me  whether  Catherine  would  suffer  greatly 
from  his  loss.  The  fear  that  she  would  restrains  me,  and  there 
you  see  the  distinction  between  our  feelings.  Had  he  been  in 
my  place,  and  I  in  his,  though  I  hated  him  with  a  hatred  that 
turned  my  life  to  gall,  I  never  would  have  raised  a  hand  against 
him.  You  may  look  incredulous  if  you  please  !  I  never  would 
have  banished  him  from  her  society  as  long  as  she  desired  his. 
The  moment  her  regard  ceased,  I  would  have  torn  his  heart  out 
and  drank  his  blood !  But  till  then,  if  you  don't  believe  me, 
you  don't  know  me — till  then,  I  would  have  died  by  inches 
before  I  touched  a  single  hair  of  his  head  !" 

"  And  yet,"  I  interrupted,  "  you  have  no  scruples  in  com- 
pletely ruining  all  hopes  of  her  perfect  restoration,  by  thrusting 
yourself  into  her  remembrance,  now  when  she  has  nearly  for- 
gotten you,  and  involving  her  in  a  new  tumult  of  discord  and 
distress." 

"  You  suppose  she  has  nearly  forgotten  me  1"  he  said.  "  Oh, 
Nelly  !  you  know  she  has  not !  You  know  as  well  as  I  do, 
that  for  every  thought  she  spends  on  Linton,  she  spends  a  thou- 
sand on  me !  At  a  most  miserable  period  of  my  life,  1  had  a 
notion  of  the  kind ;  it  haunted  me  on  my  return  to  the  neigh- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  131 

borhood,  last  summer,  but  only  her  own  assurance  could  make 
me  admit  the  horrible  idea  again.  And  then,  Linton  would  be 
nothing,  nor  Hindley,  nor  all  the  dreams  that  ever  I  dreamed. 
Two  words  would  comprehend  my  future — death  and  hell — ex- 
istence, after  losing  her,  would  be  hell. 

"  Yet  I  was  a  fool  to  fancy  for  a  moment  that  she  valued  Ed- 
gar Linton's  attachment  more  than  mine ;  if  he  loved  with  all 
the  powers  of  his  puny  being,  he  couldn't  love  as  much  in  eighty 
years  as  I  could  in  a  day.  And  Catherine  has  a  heart  as  deep 
as  I  have  ;  the  sea  could  be  as  readily  contained  in  that  horse- 
trough  as  her  whole  affection  be  monopolized  by  him.  Tush  ! 
He  is  scarcely  a  degree  dearer  to  her  than  her  dog,  or  her  horse. 
It  is  not  in  him  to  be  loved  like  me ;  how  can  she  love  in  him 
what  he  has  not  1" 

"  Catherine  and  Edgar  are  as  fond  of  each  other  as  any  two 
people  can  be  !."  cried  Isabella,  with  sudden  vivacity.  "  No  one 
has  a  right  to  talk  in  that  manner,  and  I  won't  hear  my  brother 
depreciated  in  silence !" 

"  Your  brother  is  wondrous  fond  of  you,  too,  isn't  he  ?"  ob- 
served Heathcliff,  scornfully.  "He  turns  you  adrift  on  the 
world  with  surprising  alacrity." 

"  He  is  not  aware  of  what  I  suffer,"  she  replied.  "  I  didn't 
tell  him  that." 

"  You  have  been  telling  him  something,  then — you  have  writ- 
ten, have  you  V 

"  To  say  that  I  was  married,  I  did  write — you  saw  the  note." 

"  And  nothing  since  ?" 

"No." 

"My  young  lady  is  looking  sadly  the  worse  for  her  change 
of  condition,"  I  remarked.  "  Somebody's  love  comes  short  in 
her  case,  obviously — whose,  I  may  guess;  but  perhaps  I 
shouldn't  say." 

"  I  should  guess  it  was  her  own,"  said  Heathcliff.  "  She  de- 
generates into  a  mere  slut !  She  is  tired  of  trying  to  please  me, 
uncommonly  early.  You'd  hardly  credit  it,  but  the  very  mor- 
row of  our  wedding,  she  was  weeping  to  go  home.  However, 
she'll  suit  this  house  so  much  the  better  for  not  being  over  nice, 
and  I'll  take  care  she  does  not  disgrace  me  by  rambling  abroad." 

"  Well,  sir,  returned  I,  "  I  hope  you'll  consider  that  Mrs. 
Heathcliff  is  accustomed  to  be  looked  after,  and  waited  on  ;  and 
that  she  has  been  brought  up  like  an  only  daughter  whom  every 
one  was  ready  to  serve.     You  must  let  her  have  a  maid  to  keep 


132  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 


things  tidy  about  her,  and  you  must  treat  her  kindly.  Whatever 
be  your  notion  of  Mr.  Edgar,  you  can  not  doubt  that  she  has  a 
capacity  for  strong  attachments,  or  she  wouldn't  have  abandon- 
ed the  elegancies,  and  comforts,  and  friends  of  her  former  home, 
to  fix  contentedly  in  such  a  wilderness  as  this,  with  you." 

"  She  abandoned  them  under  a  delusion,"  he  answered,  "pic- 
turing in  me  a  hero  of  romance,  and  expecting  unlimited  indul- 
gences from  my  chivalrous  devotion.  I  can  hardly  regard  her 
in  the  light  of  a  rational  creature,  so  obstinately  has  she  persist- 
ed in  forming  a  fabulous  notion  of  my  character,  and  acting  on 
the  false  impressions  she  cherished.  But  at  last,  I  think  she  be- 
gins to  know  me — I  don't  perceive  the  silly  smiles  and  grimaces 
that  provoked  me  at  first ;  and  the  senseless  incapability  of  dis- 
cerning that  I  was  in  earnest  when  I  gave  her  my  opinion  of 
her  infatuation,  and  herself.  It  was  a  remarkable  effort  of  per- 
spicacity to  discover  that  I  did  not  love  her.  I  believed,  at  one 
time,  no  lessons  could  teach  her  that !  and  yet  it  is  poorly 
learned ;  for  this  morning  she  announced,  as  a  piece  of  appalling 
intelligence,  that  I  had  actually  succeeded  in  making  her  hate 
me  !  A  positive  labor  of  Hercules,  I  assure  you !  If  it  be 
achieved,  I  have  cause  to  return  thanks ;  can  I  trust  your  asser- 
tion, Isabella — are  you  sure  you  hate  me  %  If  I  let  you  alone 
for  half  a  day,  won't  you  come  sighing  and  wheedling  to  me 
again1?  I  dare  say  she  would  rather  I  had  seemed  all  tender- 
ness before  you  ;  it  wounds  her  vanity  to  have  the  truth  exposed. 
But  I  don't  care  who  knows  that  the  passion  was  wholly  on  one 
side,  and  I  never  told  her  a  lie  about  it.  She  can  not  accuse 
me  of  showing  a  bit  of  deceitful  softness.  The  first  thing  she 
saw  me  do,  on  coming  out  of  the  Grange,  was  to  hang  up  her 
little  dog ;  and  when  she  pleaded  for  it,  the  first  words  I  uKered 
were  a  wish  that  I  had  the  hanging  of  every  being  belonging  to 
her,  except  one :  possibly,  she  took  that  exception  for  herself. 
But  no  brutality  disgusted  her — I  suppose  she  has  an  innate  ad- 
miration of  it,  if  only  her  precious  person  were  secure  from  in- 
jury !  Now,  was  it  not  the  depth  of  absurdity — of  genuine 
idiocy — for  that  pitiful,  slavish,  mean-minded  brach  to  dream 
that  I  could  love  her  ?  Tell  your  master,  Nelly,  that  I  never, 
in  all  my  life,  met  with  such  an  abject  thing  as  she  is ;  she  even 
disgraces  the  name  of  Linton;  and  I've  sometimes  relented, 
from  pure  lack  of  invention,,  in  my  experiments  on  what  she 
could  endure,  and  still  creep  shamefully  cringing  back  !  But 
tell  him  also  to  set  his  fraternal  and  magisterial  heart  at 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  133 

that  I  keep  strictly  within  the  limits  of  the  law — I  have  avoided, 
up  to  this  period,  giving  her  the  slightest  right  to  claim  a  sepa- 
ration ;  and  what's  more,  she'd  thank  nobody  for  dividing  us — 
if  she  desired  to  go  she  might — the  nuisance  of  her  presence 
outweighs  the  gratification  to  be  derived  from  tormenting 
her!" 

"  Mr.  Heathcliff,"  said  I,  "  this  is  the  talk  of  a  madman,  and 
your  wife,  most  likely,  is  convinced  you  are  mad ;  and,  for  that 
reason,  she  has  borne  with  you  hitherto :  but  now  that  you  say 
she  may  go,  she'll  doubtless  avail  herself  of  the  permission. 
You  are  not  so  bewitched  ma'am,  are  you,  as  to  remain  with 
him  of  your  own  accord  V 

"  Take  care,  Ellen !"  answered  Isabella,  her  eyes  sparkling 
irefully;  there  was  no  misdoubting,  by  their  expression,  the 
full  success  of  her  partner's  endeavors  to  make  himself  de- 
tested. "  Don't  put  faith  in  a  single  word  he  speaks.  He's  a 
lying  fiend,  a  monster,  and  not  a  human  being !  I've  been  told 
I  might  leave  him  before  ;  and  I've  made  the  attempt,  but  I 
dare  not  repeat  it !  Only  Ellen,  promise  you'll  not  mention  a 
syllable  of  his  infamous  conversation  to  my  brother  or  Catherine. 
Whatever  he  may  pretend,  he  wishes  to  provoke  Edgar  to  des- 
peration. He  says  he  has  married  me  on  purpose  to  obtain 
power  over  him  ;  and  he  shan't  obtain  it — I'll  die  first !  I  just 
hope,  I  pray,  that  he  may  forget  his  diabolical  prudence,  and 
kill  me  !  The  single  pleasure  I  can  imagine,  is  to  die,  or  to  see 
him  dead  !" 

"There — that  will  do  for  the  present!"  said  Heathcliff. 
"If  you  are  called  upon  in  a  court  of  law,  you'll  remember 
her  language,  Nelly !  And  take  a  good  look  at  that  counte- 
nance— she's  near  the  point  which  would  suit  me.  No,  you're 
not  fit  to  be  your  own  guardian,  Isabella  now;  and  I,  being 
your  legal  protector,  must  retain  you  in  my  custody,  however 
distasteful  the  obligation  may  be.  Go  up-stairs  ;  I  have  some- 
thing to  say  to  Ellen  Dean,  in  private.  That's  not  the  way— 
up-stairs,  I  tell  you  !     Why  this  is  the  road  up-stairs,  child !" 

He  seized,  and  thrust  her  from  the  room;  and  returned 
muttering, 

"  I  have  no  pity !  I  have  no  pity !  The  worms  writhe,  the 
more  I  yearn  to  crush  out  their  entrails !  It  is  a  moral  teeth- 
ing, and  I  grind  with  greater  energy,  in  proportion  to  the  in- 
crease of  pain." 

"  Do  you  understand  what  the  word  pity  means  V  I  said, 


134  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

hastening  to  resume  my  bonnet.  "  Did  you  ever  feel  a  touch 
of  it  in  your  life  V1 

"  Put  that  down  !"  he  interrupted,  perceiving  my  intention 
to  depart.  "  You  are  not  going  yet.  Come  here  now,  Nelly; 
I  must  either  persuade  or  compel  you  to  aid  me  in  fulfilling 
my  determination  to  see  Catherine,  and  that  without  delay. 
I  swear  that  I  meditate  no  harm  ;  I  don't  desire  to  cause  any 
disturbance,  or  to  exasperate  or  insult  Mr.  Linton ;  I  only  wish 
to  hear  from  herself  how  she  is,  and  why  she  has  been  ill ;  and 
to  ask  if  any  thing  that  I  could  do  would  be  of  use  to  her. 
Last  night  I  was  in  the  Grange  garden  six  hours,  and  I'll 
return  there  to-night;  and  every  night  I'll  haunt  the  place,  and 
every  day,  till  I  find  an  opportunity  of  entering.  If  Edgar 
Linton  meets  me,  I  shall  not  hesitate  to  knock  him  down,  and 
give  him  enough  to  ensure  his  quiescence  while  I  stay.  If  his 
servants  oppose  me,  I  shall  threaten  them  off  with  these  pistols. 
But  wouldn't  it  be  better  to  prevent  my  coming  in  contact  with 
them,  or  their  master  1  And  you  could  do  it  so  easily !  I'd 
warn  you  when  I  came,  and  then  you  might  let  me  in  unob- 
served, as  soon  as  she  was  alone,  and  watch  till  I  departed — 
your  conscience  quite  calm,  you  would  be  hindering  mischief." 

I  protested  against  playing  that  treacherous  part  in  my  em- 
ployer's house  ;  and  besides,  I  urged  the  cruelty  and  selfishness 
of  his  destroying  Mrs.  Linton's  tranquillity,  for  his  satisfaction. 

"  The  commonest  occurrence  startles  her  painfully,"  I  said. 
"  She's  all  nerves,  and  she  couldn't  bear  the  surprise,  I'm 
positive.  Don't  persist,  sir !  or  else,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  in- 
form my  master  of  your  designs,  and  he'll  take  measures  to 
secure  his  house  and  its  inmates  from  any  such  unwarrantable 
intrusions!" 

"In  that  case,  I'll  take  measures  to  secure  you,  woman!" 
exclaimed  Heathcliff ;  "  you  shall  not  leave  Wuthering  Heights 
till  to-morrow  morning.  It  is  a  foolish  story  to  assert  that 
Catherine  could  not  bear  to  see  me;  and  as  to  surprising  her, 
I  don't  desire  it,  you  must  prepare  her — ask  her  if  I  may  come. 
You  say  she  never  mentions  my  name,  and  that  I  am  never 
mentioned  to  her.  To  whom  should  she  mention  me,  if  I  am  a 
forbidden  topic  in  the  house  1  She  thinks  you  are  all  spies  for 
her  husband.  Oh,  I've  no  doubt  she's  in  hell  among  you  !  I 
guess,  by  her  silence,  as  much  as  any  thing,  what  she  feels. 
You  say  she  is  often  restless,  and  anxious-looking — is  that  a 
proof  of  tranquillity  1     You  talk  of  her  mind  being  unsettled 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  135 

— how  the  devil  could  it  be  otherwise,  in  her  frightful  isolation  ! 
And  that  insipid,  paltry  creature  attending  her  from  duty  and 
humanity  !  From  pity  and  charity.  He  might  as  well  plant 
an  oak  in  a  flower-pot,  and  expect  it  to  thrive,  as  imagine  he 
can  restore  her  to  vigor  in  the  soil  of  his  shallow  cares  !  Let 
us  settle  it  at  once ;  will  you  stay  here,  and  am  I  to  fight  my 
way  to  Catherine  over  Linton  and  his  footmen  1  Or  will  you 
be  my  friend,  as  you  have  been  hitherto,  and  do  what  I  re- 
quest %  Decide  !  because  there  is  no  reason  for  my  lingering 
another  minute,  if  you  persist  in  your  stubborn  ill-nature." 

"Well,  Mr.  Lock  wood,  I  argued,  and  complained,  and  flatly 
refused  him  fifty  times ;  but,  in  the  long  run,  he  forced  me  to 
an  agreement.  I  engaged  to  carry  a  letter  from  him  to  my 
mistress  ;  and  should  she  consent,  I  promised  to  let  him  have 
intelligence  of  Linton's  next  absence  from  home,  when  he 
might  come,  and  get  in  as  he  was  able — I  wouldn't  be  there, 
and  my  fellow  servants  should  be  equally  out  of  the  way. 

Was  it  right  or  wrong  %  I  fear  it  was  wrong,  though  ex- 
pedient. I  thought  I  prevented  another  explosion  by  my  com- 
pliance :  and  I  thought  too,  it  might  create  a  favorable  crisis  in 
Catherine's  mental  illness  :  and  then  I  remembered  Mr.  Edgar's 
stern  rebuke  of  my  carrying  tales ;  and  I  tried  to  smooth  away 
all  disquietude  on  the  subject,  by  affirming  with  frequent  itera- 
tion, that  this  betrayal  of  trust,  if  it  merited  so  harsh  an  appella- 
tion, should  be  the  last. 

Notwithstanding,  my  journey  homeward  was  sadder  than  my 
journey  thither  ;  and  many  misgivings  I  had  ere  I  could  prevail 
on  myself  to  put  the  missive  into  Mrs.  Linton's  hand. 

But  here  is  Kenneth — I'll  go  down  and  tell  him  how  much 
better  you  are.  My  history  is  dree,  as  we  say,  and  will  serve  to 
while  away  another  morning. — 

Dree,  and  dreary !  I  reflected  as  the  good  woman  descended 
to  receive  the  doctor ;  and  not  exactly  of  the  kind  which  I 
should  have  chosen  to  amuse  me ;  but  never  mind !  I'll  extract 
wholesome  medicines  from  Mrs.  Dean's  bitter  herbs ;  and  first- 
ly, let  me  beware  of  the  fascination  that  lurks  in  Catherine 
Heathcliff's  brilliant  eyes.  I  should  be  in  a  curious  taking,  if  I 
surrendered  my  heart  to  that  young  person,  and  the  daughter 
turned  out  a  second  edition  of  the  mother ! 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Another  week  over — and  I  am  so  many  days  nearer  health 
and  spring !  I  have  now  heard  all  my  neighbor's  history  at  dif- 
ferent sittings,  as  the  housekeeper  could  spare  time  from  more 
important  occupations.  I'll  continue  it  in  her  own  words,  only 
a  little  condensed.  She  is,  on  the  whole,  a  very  fair  narrator, 
and  I  don't  think  I  could  improve  her  style. — 

In  the  evening,  she  said,  the  evening  of  my  visit  to  the  Heights, 
I  knew  as  well  as  if  I  saw  him,  that  Mr.  Heathcliff  was  about 
the  place ;  and  I  shunned  going  out,  because  I  still  carried  his 
letter  in  my  pocket,  and  didn't  want  to  be  threatened,  or  teased 
any  more. 

I  had  made  up  my  mind  not  to  give  it  till  my  master  went 
somewhere ;  as  I  could  not  guess  how  its  receipt  would  affect 
Catherine.  The  consequence  was,  that  it  did  not  reach  her 
before  the  lapse  of  three  days.  The  fourth  was  Sunday,  and  I 
brought  it  into  her  room,  after  the  family  were  gone  to  church. 

There  was  a  man  servant  left  to  keep  the  house  with  me,  and 
we  generally  made  a  practice  of  locking  the  doors  during  the 
hours  of  service  ;  but  on  that  occasion  the  weather  was  so  warm 
and  pleasant  that  I  set  them  wide  open ;  and  to  fulfill  my  en- 
gagement, as  I  knew  who  would  be  coming,  I  told  my  com- 
panion that  the  mistress  wished  very  much  for  some  oranges, 
and  he  must  run  over  to  the  village  and  get  a  few,  to  be  paid 
for  on  the  morrow.     He  departed,  and  I  went  up-stairs. 

Mrs.  Linton  sat  in  a  loose,  white  dress,  with  a  light  shawl 
over  her  shoulders,  in  the  recess  of  the  open  window,  as  usual. 
Her  thick,  long  hair  had  been  partly  removed  at  the  beginning 
of  her  illness ;  and  now  she  wore  it  simply  combed  over  her 
temples  and  neck.  Her  appearance  was  altered,  as  I  had  told 
Heathcliff,  but  when  she  was  calm,  there  seemed  unearthly 
beauty  in  the  change. 

The  flash  of  her  eyes  had  been  succeeded  by  a  dreamy  and 
melancholy  softness  :  they  no  longer  gave  the  impression  of 
looking  at  the  objects  around  her;  they  appeared  always  to 
gaze  beyond,  and  far  beyond — you  would  have  said  out  of  this 
world — then  the  paleness  of  her  face,  its  haggard  aspect  having 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  137 

vanished  as  she  recovered  flesh,  and  the  peculiar  expression 
arising  from  her  mental  state,  though  painfully  suggestive  of 
their  causes,  added  to  the  touching  interest,  which  she  wakened, 
and  invariably  to  me,  I  know,  and  to  any  person  who  saw  her, 
I  should  think,  refuted  more  tangible  proofs  of  convalescence, 
and  stamped  her  as  one  doomed  to  decay. 

A  book  lay  spread  on  the  sill  before  her,  and  the  scarcely 
perceptible  wind  fluttered  its  leaves  at  intervals.  I  believe 
Linton  had  laid  it  there,  for  she  never  endeavored  to  divert  her- 
self with  reading,  or  occupation  of  any  kind ;  and  be  would 
spend  many  an  hour  in  trying  to  entice  her  attention  to  some 
subject  which  had  formerly  been  her  amusement. 

She  was  conscious  of  his  aim,  and  in  her  better  moods  en- 
dured his  efforts  placidly ;  only  showing  their  uselessness  by 
now  and  then  suppressing  a  wearied  sigh,  and  checking  him  at 
last  with  the  saddest  of  smiles  and  kisses.  At  other  times  she 
would  turn  petulantly  away,  and  hide  her  face  in  her  hands,  or 
even  push  him  off  angrily;  and  then  he  took  care  to  let  her 
alone,  for  he  was  certain  of  doing  no  good. 

Gimmerton  chapel  bells  were  still  ringing  ;  and  the  full,  mel- 
low flow  of  the  beck  in  the  valley,  came  soothingly  on  the  ear. 
It  was  a  sweet  substitute  for  the  yet  absent  murmur  of  the 
summer  foliage,  which  drowned  that  music  about  the  Grange 
when  the  trees  were  in  leaf.  At  Wuthering  Heights  it  always 
sounded  on  quiet  days,  following  a  great  thaw,  or  a  season  of 
steady  rain — and  of  Wuthering  Heights  Catherine  was  think- 
ing, as  she  listened ;  that  is,  if  she  thought  or  listened  at  all ; 
but  she  had  the  vague,  distant  look  I  mentioned  before,  which 
expressed  no  recognition  of  material  things  either  by  ear  or  eye. 

"  There's  a  letter  for  you,  Mrs.  Linton,"  I  said,  gently  insert- 
ing it  in  one  hand  that  rested  on  her  knee.  "  You  must  read 
it  immediately,  because  it  wants  an  answer.  Shall  I  break  the 
seal?" 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  without  altering  the  direction  of  her 
eyes. 

I  opened  it — ft  was  very  short. 

"  Now,"  I  continued,  "  read  it." 

She  drew  away  her  hand,  and  let  it  fall.  I  replaced  it  in 
her  lap,  and  stood  waiting  till  it  should  please  her  to  glance 
down ;  but  that  movement  was  so  long  delayed  that  at  last  I 
resumed — 

"  Must  I  read  it,  ma'am  ]     It  is  from  Mr.  Heathcliff." 


138  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

There  was  a  start,  and  a  troubled  gleam  of  recollection,  and 
a  struggle  to  arrange  her  ideas.  She  lifted  the  letter,  and 
seemed  to  peruse  it ;  and  when  she  came  to  the  signature  she 
sighed  ;  yet  still  I  found  she  had  not  gathered  its  import ;  for 
upon  my  desiring  to  hear  her  reply,  she  merely  pointed  to  the 
name,  and  gazed  at  me  with  mournful  and  questioning  eagerness. 

"  Well,  he  wishes  to  see  you,"  said  I,  guessing  her  need  of 
an  interpreter.  "  He's  in  the  garden  by  this  time,  and  im- 
patient to  know  what  answer  I  shall  bring." 

As  I  spoke,  I  observed  a  large  dog,  lying  on  the  sunny  grass 
beneath,  raise  its  ears,  as  if  about  to  bark  ;  and  then  smoothing 
them  back,  announce  by  a  wag  of  the  tail  that  some  one 
approached  whom  it  did  not  consider  a  stranger. 

Mrs.  Linton  bent  forward,  and  listened  breathlessly.  The 
minute  after  a  step  traversed  the  hall ;  the  open  house  was  too 
tempting  for  Heathcliff  to  resist  walking  in  :  most  likely  he 
supposed  that  I  was  inclined  to  shirk  my  promise,  and  so 
resolved  to  trust  to  his  own  audacity. 

With  straining  eagerness  Catherine  gazed  toward  the  en- 
trance of  her  chamber.  He  did  not  hit  the  right  room  directly ; 
6he  motioned  me  to  admit  him  ;  but  he  found  it  out  ere  I  could 
reach  the  door,  and  in  a  stride  or  two  was  at  her  side,  and  had 
her  grasped  in  his  arms. 

He  neither  spoke  nor  loosed  his  hold  for  some  five  minutes, 
during  which  period  he  bestowed  more  kisses  than  ever  he 
gave  in  his  life  before,  I  dare  say  ;  but  then  my  mistress  had 
kissed  him  first,  and  I  plainly  saw  that  he  could  hardly  bear, 
for  downright  agony,  to  look  into  her  face  !  The  same  con- 
viction had  stricken  him  as  me,  from  the  instant  he  beheld  her, 
that  there  was  no  prospect  of  ultimate  recovery  there — she  was 
fated,  sure  to  die. 

"Oh,  Cathy!  Oh,  my  life!  how  can  I  bear  it]"  was  the 
first  sentence  he  uttered,  in  a  tone  that  did  not  seek  to  disguise 
his  despair. 

And  now  he  stared  at  her  so  earnestly  that  I  thought  the 
very  intensity  of  his  gaze  would  bring  tears  into  his  eyes ;  but 
they  burned  with  anguish,  they  did  not  melt. 

"What  now!"  said  Catherine,  leaning  back,  and  returning 
his  look  with  a  suddenly  clouded  brow — her  humor  was  a  mere 
vane  for  constantly  varying  caprices.  "  You  and  Edgar  have 
broken  my  heart,  Heathcliff!  And  you  both  come  to  bewail 
the  deed  to  me,  as  if  you  were  the  people  to  be  pitied !  I  shall 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  139 

not  pity  you,  not  I.  You  have  killed  me — and  thriven  on  it,  I 
think.  How  strong  you  are  !  How  many  years  do  you  mean 
to  live  after  I  am  gone  V 

Heathcliff  had  knelt  on  one  knee  to  embrace  her  ;  he  at- 
tempted to  rise,  but  she  seized  his  hair,  and  kept  him  down. 

"  I  wish  I  could  hold  you,"  she  continued,  bitterly,  "  till  we 
were  both  dead  !  I  shouldn't  care  what  you  suffered.  I  care 
nothing  for  your  sufferings.  Why  shouldn't  you  suffer  1  I  do  ! 
Will  you  forget  me — will  you  be  happy  when  I  am  in  the 
earth  ?  Will  you  say,  twenty  years  hence,  '  That's  the  grave  of 
Catherine  Earnshaw.  I  loved  her  long  ago,  and  was  wretched 
to  lose  her  ;  but  it  is  past.  I've  loved  many  others  since — my 
children  are  dearer  to  me  than  she  was  ;  and,  at  death,  I  shall 
not  rejoice  that  I  am  going  to  her,  I  shall  be  sorry  that  I  must 
leave  them  !'     Will  you  say  so,  Heathcliff?" 

"  Don't  torture  me  till  I'm  as  mad  as  yourself,"  cried  he, 
wrenching  his  head  free,  and  grinding  his  teeth. 

The  two,  to  a  cool  spectator,  made  a  strange  and  fearful 
picture.  Well  might  Catherine  deem  that  Heaven  would  be  a 
land  of  exile  to  her,  unless,  with  her  mortal  body,  she  cast 
away  her  mortal  character  also.  Her  present  countenance  had 
a  wild  vindictiveness  in  its  white  cheek,  and  bloodless  lip  and 
scintillating  eye  ;  and  she  retained  in  her  closed  fingers  a 
portion  of  the  locks  she  had  been  grasping.  As  to  her  com- 
panion, while  raising  himself  with  one  hand,  he  had  taken  her 
arm  with  the  other ;  and  so  inadequate  was  his  stock  of  gentle- 
ness to  the  requirements  of  her  condition,  that  on  his  letting  go, 
I  saw  four  distinct  impressions  left  blue  in  the  colorless  skin. 

V  Are  you  possessed  with  a  devil,"  he  pursued,  savagely,  "  to 
talk  in  that  manner  to  me,  when  you  are  dying  1  Do  yon 
reflect  that  all  those  words  will  be  branded  in  my  memory, 
and  eating  deeper  eternally,  after  you  have  left  me  1  You 
know  you  lie  to  say  I  have  killed  you  ;  and,  Catherine,  you 
know  that  I  could  as  soon  forget  you  as  my  existence  !  Is  it 
not  sufficient  for  your  infernal  selfishness  that  while  you  are  at 
peace  I  shall  writhe  in  the  torments  of  hell  ]  " 

"I  shall  not  be  at  peace,"  moaned  Catherine,  recalled  to  a 
sense  of  physical  weakness  by  the  violent,  unequal  throbbing 
of  her  heart,  which  beat,  visibly  and  audibly,  under  this  excess 
of  agitation. 

She  said  nothing  further  till  the  paroxysm  was  over ;  then 
she  continued,  more  kindly — 


140  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  I'm  not  wishing  you  greater  torment  than  I  have,  Heath- 
cliff!  I  only  wish  us  never  to  be  parted — and  should  a  word  of 
mine  distress  you  hereafter,  think  I  feel  the  same  distress  un- 
derground, and  for  my  own  sake,  forgive  me !  Come  here 
and  kneel  down  again !  You  never  harmed  me  in  your  life. 
Nay,  if  you  nurse  anger,  that  will  be  worse  to  remember  than 
my  harsh  words  !     Won't  you  come  here  again  ]     Do  !" 

Heathcliff  went  to  the  back  of  her  chair,  and  leaned  over, 
but  not  so  far  as  to  let  her  see  his  face,  which  was  livid  with 
emotion.  She  bent  round  to  look  at  him ;  he  would  not  per- 
mit it ;  turning  abruptly,  he  walked  to  the  fireplace,  where  he 
stood  silent,  with  his  back  toward  us. 

Mrs.  Linton's  glance  followed  him  suspiciously ;  every  move- 
ment woke  a  new  sentiment  in  her.  After  a  pause,  and  a  pro- 
longed gaze,  she  resumed,  addressing  me  in  accents  of  indig- 
nant disappointment. 

"  Oh,  you  see,  Nelly  !  he  would  not  relent  a  moment,  to  keep 
me  out  of  the  grave  !  That  is  how  I'm  loved !  Well,  never 
mind  !  That  is  not  my  Heathcliff.  I  shall  love  mine  yet ;  and 
take  him  with  me — he's  in  my  soul.  And,"  added  she,  musing- 
ly, "  the  thing  that  irks  me  most  is  this  shattered  prison,  after 
all.  I'm  tired,  tired  of  being  inclosed  here.  I'm  wearying  to 
escape  into  that  glorious  world,  and  to  be  always  there ;  not 
seeing  it  dimly  through  tears,  and  yearning  for  it  through  the 
walls  of  an  aching  heart :  but  really  with  it,  and  in  it.  Nelly, 
you  think  you  are  better  and  more  fortunate  than  I ;  in  full 
health  and  strength — you  are  sorry  for  me — very  soon  that 
will  be  altered.  I  shall  be  sorry  for  you.  I  shall  be  incom- 
parably beyond  and  above  you  all.  I  wonder  he  won't  be  near 
me!"  She  went  on  to  herself.  "I  thought  he  wished  it. 
Heathcliff,  dear !  you  should  not  be  sullen  now.  Do  come  to 
me,  Heathcliff." 

In  her  eagerness,  she  rose  and  supported  herself  on  the  arm 
of  the  chair.  At  that  earnest  appeal,  he  turned  to  her,  looking 
absolutely  desperate.  His  eyes  wide,  and  wet  at  last,  flashed 
fiercely  on  her;  his  breath  heaved  convulsively.  An  instant 
they  held  asunder ;  and  then  how  they  met  I  hardly  saw,  but 
Catherine  made  a  spring,  and  he  caught  her,  and  they  were 
locked  in  an  embrace  from  which  I  thought  my  mistress  would 
never  be  released  alive.  In  fact,  to  my  eyes,  she  seemed  di- 
rectly insensible.  He  flung  himself  into  the  nearest  seat,  and 
on  my  approaching  hurriedly  to  ascertain  if  she  had  fainted,  he 


WUT  BERING      HEIGHTS.  141 

gnashed  at  me,  and  foamed  like  a  mad  dog,  and  gathered  her 
to  him  with  greedy  jealousy.  I  did  not  feel  as  if  I  were  in  the 
company  of  a  creature  of  my  own  species ;  it  appeared  that  he 
would  not  understand,  though  I  spoke  to  him ;  so  I  stood  off 
and  held  my  tongue,  in  great  perplexity. 

A  movement  of  Catherine's  relieved  me  a  little  presently  : 
she  put  up  her  hand  to  clasp  his  neck,  and  bring  her  cheek  to 
his,  as  he  held  her ;  while  he,  in  return,  covering  her  with  fran- 
tic caresses,  said,  wildly — 

"  You  teach  me  now  how  cruel  you've  been — cruel  and 
false.  Why  did  you  despise  me  %  Why  did  you  betray  your 
own  heart,  Cathy  1  I  have  not  one  word  of  comfort — you  de- 
serve this.  You  have  killed  yourself.  Yes,  you  may  kiss  me, 
and  cry  ;  and  wring  out  my  kisses  and  tears.  They'll  blight 
you — they'll  damn  you.  You  loved  me — then  what  right  had 
you  to  leave  me  1  What  right — answer  me — for  the  poor  fan- 
cy you  felt  for  Linton  1  Because  misery,  and  degradation,  and 
death,  and  nothing  that  God  or  Satan  could  inflict  would  have 
parted  us,  you,  of  your  own  will,  did  it.  I  have  not  broken 
your  heart — you  have  broken  it — and  in  breaking  it,  you  have 
broken  mine.  So  much  the  worse  for  me,  that  I  am  strong. 
Do  I  want  to  live  1  What  kind  of  living  will  it  be  when  you 
— Oh,  God  !  would  you  live  with  your  soul  in  the  grave  V 

"Let  me  alone.  Let  me  alone,"  sobbed  Catherine.  "If  I've 
done  wrong,  I'm  dying  for  it.  It  is  enough  !  You  left  me  too  ; 
but  I  won't  upbraid  you !     I  forgive  you.     Forgive  me  !" 

"  It  is  hard  to  forgive,  and  to  look  at  those  eyes,  and  feel 
those  wasted  hands,"  he  answered.  "  Kiss  me  again ;  and 
don't  let  me  see  your  eyes !  I  forgive  what  you  have  done  to 
me.     I  love  my  murderer — but  yours  !     How  can  I  V 

They  were  silent — their  faces  hid  against  each  other,  and 
washed  by  each  other's  tears.  At  least,  I  suppose  the  weeping 
was  on  both  sides;  as  it  seemed  Heathcliff  could  weep  on  a 
great  occasion  like  this. 

I  grew  very  uncomfortable,  meanwhile;  for  the  afternoon 
wore  fast  away,  the  man  whom  I  had  sent  off  returned  from  his 
errand;  and  I  could  distinguish,  by  the  shine  of  the  westering 
sun  up  the  valley,  a  concourse  thickening  outside  Gimmerton 
chapel  porch. 

"  Service  is  over.     My  master  will  be  here  in  half  an  hour." 

Heathcliff  groaned  a  curse,  and  strained  Catherine  closer — 
she  never  moved. 


142  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

Ere  long  I  perceived  a  group  of  the  servants  passing  up  the 
road  toward  the  kitchen  wing.  Mr.  Linton  was  not  far  behind ; 
he  opened  the  gate  himself,  and  sauntered  slowly  up,  probably 
enjoying  the  lovely  afternoon  that  breathed  as  soft  as  summer. 

"  Now  he  is  here,"  I  exclaimed.  "  For  Heaven's  sake, 
hurry  down  !  You'll  not  meet  any  one  on  the  front  stairs. 
Do  be  quick;   and  stay  among  the  trees  till  he  is  fairly  in."         { 

"  I  must  go,  Cathy,"  said  HeathclifF,  seeking  to  extricate 
himself  from  his  companion's  arms.  "  But,  if  I  live,  I'll  see 
you  again  before  you  are  asleep.  I  won't  stray  five  yards  from 
your  window." 

"  You  must  not  go  !"  she  answered,  holding  him  as  firmly  as 
her  strength  allowed.     "  You  shall  not,  I  tell  you." 

i'  For  one  hour,"  he  pleaded,  earnestly. 

"  Not  for  one  minute,"  she  replied. 

"  I  must — Linton  will  be  up  immediately,"  persisted  the 
alarmed  intruder. 

He  would  have  risen,  and  unfixed  her  fingers  by  the  act — 
she  clung  fast,  gasping  ;  there  was  mad  resolution  in  her  face. 

"No!"  she  shrieked.  "Oh,  don't,  don't  go.  It  is  the  last 
time  !  Edgar  will  not  hurt  us.  Heathcliff,  I  shall  die  !  I  shall 
die  !" 

"  Damn  the  fool.  There  he  is,"  cried  Heathcliff  sinking 
back  into  his  seat.  "  Hush,  my  darling  !  Hush,  hush,  Cathe- 
rine !  I'll  stay.  If  he  shot  me  so,  I'd  expire  with  a  blessing 
on  my  lips." 

And  there  they  were  fast  again.  I  heard  my  master  mount- 
ing the  stairs — the  cold  sweat  ran  from  my  forehead ;  I  was 
horrified. 

"  Are  you  going  to  listen  to  her  ravings  V  I  said  passionately. 
"  She  does  not  know  what  she  says.  Will  you  ruin  her,  be- 
cause she  has  not  wit  to  help  herself?  Get  up  !  you  could 
be  free  instantly.  That  is  the  most  diabolical  deed  that  ever 
you  did.     We  are  all  done  for — master,  mistress,  and  servant." 

I  wrung  my  hands,  and  cried  out ;  and  Mr.  Linton  hastened 
his  step  at  the  noise.  In  the  midst  of  my  agitation,  I  was  sin- 
cerely glad  to  observe  that  Catherine's  arms  had  fallen  relaxed, 
and  her  head  hung  down. 

"She's  fainted  or  dead,"  I  thought,  "so  much  the  better. 
Far  better  that  she  should  be  dead,  than  lingering  a  burden 
and  a  misery-maker  to  all  around  her." 

Edgar  sprang  to  his  unbidden  guest,  blanched  with  astonish- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  143 

merit  and  rage.  What  he  meant  to  do,  I  can  not  tell ;  however, 
the  other  stopped  all  demonstrations  at  once,  by  placing  the 
lifeless  looking  form  in  his  arms. 

"  Look  there,"  he  said,  "  unless  you  be  a  fiend,  help  her  first, 
then  you  shall  speak  to  me !" 

He  walked  into  the  parlor,  and  sat  down.  Mr.  Linton  sum- 
moned me,  and  with  great  difficulty,  and  after  resorting  to  many 
means,  we  managed  to  restore  her  to  sensation  ;  but  she  was  all 
bewildered  ;  she  sighed  and  moaned  and  knew  nobody.  Edgar, 
in  his  anxiety  for  her  forgot  her  hated  friend.  I  did  not.  I 
went,  at  the  earliest  opportunity,  and  besought  him  to  depart, 
affirming  that  Catherine  was  better,  and  he  should  hear  from  me 
in  the  morning,  how  she  passed  the  night. 

"  I  shall  not  refuse  to  go  out  of  doors,"  he  answered,  "  but 
I  shall  stay  in  the  garden;  and,  Nelly,  mind  you  keep  your 
word  to-morrow.  I  shall  be  under  those  larch  trees,  mind !  or 
I  pay  another  visit,  whether  Linton  be  in  or  not." 

He  sent  a  rapid  glance  through  the  half-open  door  of  the 
chamber,  and  ascertaining  that  what  I  stated  was  apparently 
true,  delivered  the  house  of  his  luckless  presence. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

About  twelve  o'clock  that  night,  was  born  the  Catherine  you 
saw  at  Wuthering  Heights,  a  puny,  seven  months'  child  ;  and 
two  hours  after,  the  mother  died,  having  never  recovered  suffi- 
cient consciousness  to  miss  HeathclifT,  or  know  Edgar. 

The  latter's  distraction  at  his  bereavement  is  a  subject  too 
painful  to  be  dwelt  on ;  its  after  effects  showed  how  deep  the 
sorrow  sunk. 

A  great  addition,  in  my  eyes,  was  his  being  left  without  an 
heir.  I  bemoaned  that,  as  I  gazed  on  the  feeble  orphan  ;  and 
I  mentally  abused  old  Linton  for — what  was  only  natural  par- 
tiality— the  securing  his  estate  to  his  own  daughter,  instead  of 
his  son's. 

An  unwelcomed  infant  it  was,  poor  thing  !  It  might  have 
wailed  out  of  life,  and  nobody  cared  a  morsel  during  those  first 


144  WUTHERINO     HEI  G  H  T  S. 

hours  of  existence.  "We  redeemed  the  neglect  afterward; 
but  it's  beginning  was  as  friendless  as  its  end  is  likely  to  be. 

Next  morning — bright  and  cheerful  out  of  doors — stole 
softened  in  through  the  blinds  of  the  silent  room,  and  suffused 
the  couch  and  its  occupant  with  a  mellow,  tender  glow. 

Edgar  Linton  had  his  head  laid  on  the  pillow,  and  his  eyes 
shut.  His  young  and  fair  features  were  almost  as  deathlike  as 
those  of  the  form  beside  him,  and  almost  as  fixed ;  but  his  was 
the  hush  of  exhausted  anguish,  and  hers  of  perfect  peace.  Her 
brow  smooth,  her  lids  closed,  her  lips  wearing  the  expression  of 
a  smile.  No  angel  in  heaven  could  be  more  beautiful  than  she 
appeared ;  and  I  partook  of  the  infinite  calm  in  which  she  lay. 
My  mind  was  never  in  a  holier  frame  than  while  I  gazed  on 
that  untroubled  image  of  divine  rest.  I  instinctively  echoed 
the  words  she  had  uttered  a  few  hours  before.  "  Incomparably 
beyond  and  above  us  all !  Whether  still  on  earth  or  now  in 
Heaven,  her  spirit  is  at  home  with  God !" 

I  don't  know  if  it  be  a  peculiarity  in  me,  but  I  am  seldom 
otherwise  than  happy  while  watching  in  the  chamber  of  death, 
should  no  frenzied  or  despairing  mourner  share  the  duty  with 
me.  I  see  a  repose  that  neither  eartli  nor  hell  can  break  ;  and 
I  feel  an  assurance  of  the  endless  and  shadowless  hereafter— 
the  eternity  they  have  entered — where  life  is  boundless  in  its 
duration,  and  love  in  its  sympathy,  and  joy  in  its  fullness.  I 
noticed  on  that  occasion  how  much  selfishness  there  is  even  in  a 
love  like  Mr.  Linton's,  when  he  so  regretted  Catherine's  blessed 
release. 

To  be  sure,  one  might  have  doubted,  after  the  wayward  and 
impatient  existence  she  had  led,  whether  she  merited  a  haven 
of  peace  at  last.  One  might  doubt,  in  seasons  of  cold  reflection, 
but  not  then,  in  the  presence  of  her  corpse.  It  asserted  its  own 
tranquillity,  which  seemed  a  pledge  of  equal  quiet  to  its  former 
inhabitant. 

Do  you  believe  such  people  are  happy  in  the  other  world, 
sir  ]     I'd  give  a  great  deal  to  know. 

I  declined  answering  Mrs.  Dean's  question,  which  struck  me 
as  something  heterodox.     She  proceeded  : — 

Retracing  the  course  of  Catherine  Linton,  I  fear  we  have  no 
right  to  think  she  is  ;  but  we'll  leave  her  with  her  Maker. 

The  master  looked  asleep,  and  I  ventured  soon  after  sunrise 
to  quit  the  room,  and  steal  out  to  the  pure,  refreshing  air.  The 
servants  thought  me  gone  to  shake  off  the  drowsiness  of  my 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  145 

protracted  watch ;  In  reality  my  chief  motive  was  seeing  Mr. 
Heathcliff.  If  he  had  remained  among  the  larches  all  night  he 
would  have  heard  nothing  of  the  stir  at  the  Grange,  unless, 
perhaps,  he  might  catch  the  gallop  of  the  messenger  going  to 
Gimmerton.  If  he  had  come  nearer  he  would  probably  be 
aware,  from  the  lights  flitting  to  and  fro,  and  the  opening  and 
shutting  of  the  outer  doors,  that  all  was  not  right  within. 

I  wished,  yet  feared,  to  find  him.  I  felt  the  terrible  news 
must  be  told,  and  I  longed  to  get  it  over ;  but  how  to  do  it  I  did 
not  know. 

He  was  there — at  least  a  few  yards  further  in  the  park,  lean- 
ing against  an  old  ash-tree,  his  hat  off,  and  his  hair  soaked  with 
the  dew  that  had  gathered  on  the  budded  branches,  and  fell 
pattering  round  him.  He  had  been  standing  a  long  time  in 
that  position,  for  I  saw  a  pair  of  ousels  passing  and  repassing, 
scarcely  three  feet  from  him,  busy  in  building  their  nest,  and 
regarding  his  proximity  no  more  than  that  of  a  piece  of  tim- 
ber. They  flew  off  at  my  approach,  and  he  raised  his  eyes  and 
spoke  : 

"  She's  dead  !"  he  said ;  "  I've  not  waited  for  you  to  learn 
that.  Put  your  handkerchief  away — don't  snivel  before  me. 
Damn  you  all !     She  wants  none  of  your  tears  !" 

I  was  weeping  as  much  for  him  as  her :  we  do  sometimes 
pity  creatures  that  have  none  of  the  feeling  either  for  them- 
selves or  others ;  and  when  I  first  looked  into  his  face  I  per- 
ceived that  he  had  got  intelligence  of  the  catastrophe ;  and  a 
foolish  notion  struck  me  that  his  heart  was  quelled,  and  he 
prayed,  because  his  lips  moved,  and  his  gaze  was  bent  on  the 
ground. 

"  Yes,  she's  dead  !"  I  answered,  checking  my  sobs,  and  dry- 
ing my  cheeks.  "  Gone  to  heaven,  I  hope,  where  we  may  every 
one  join  her  if  we  take  due  warning,  and  leave  our  evil  ways  to 
follow  good." 

"  Did  she  take  due  warning,  then  V9  asked  Heathcliff,  attempt- 
ing a  sneer.  "  Did  she  die  like  a  saint  1  Come,  give  me  a  true 
history  of  the  event.     How  did " 

He  endeavored  to  pronounce  the  name,  but  could  not  manage 
it ;  and,  compressing  his  mouth,  he  held  a  silent  combat  with  his 
inward  agony,  defying,  meanwhile,  my  sympathy  with  an  un- 
flinching, ferocious  stare. 

"  How  did  she  die  V*  he  resumed,  at  last,  fain,  notwith- 
standing his  hardihood,  to  have  a  support  behind  him,  for  after 

G 


146  WUTHER.ING     HEIGHTS. 

the  struggle,  he  trembled,  in  spite  of  himself,  to  his  very  finger- 
ends. 

"  Poor  wretch  !"  I  thought,  "  you  have  a  heart  and  nerves,  the 
same  as  your  brother  men  !  Why  should  you  be  so  anxious  to 
conceal  them  1  Your  pride  can  not  blind  God  !  You  tempt 
Him  to  wring  them,  till  He  forces  a  cry  of  humiliation  !" 

"  Quietly  as  a  lamb  !"  I  answered,  aloud.  "  She  drew  a  sigh, 
and  stretched  herself,  like  a  child  reviving,  and  sinking  again  to 
-sleep  ;  and  five  minutes  after  I  felt  one  little  pulse  at  her  heart, 
and  nothing  more." 

"  And — and  did  she  ever  mention  me  V'  he  asked,  hesitating, 
as  if  he  dreaded  the  answer  to  his  question  would  introduce 
details  that  he  could  not  bear  to  hear. 

"  Her  senses  never  returned — she  recognized  nobody  from 
the  time  you  left  her,"  I  said.  "  She  lies  with  a  sweet  smile  on 
her  face,  and  her  latest  ideas  wandered  back  to  pleasant  early 
days.  Her  life  closed  in  a  gentle  dream — may  she  wake  as 
kindly  in  the  other  world  !" 

"May  she  wake  in  torment !"  he  cried,  with  frightful  vehe- 
mence, stamping  his  foot,  and  groaning,  in  a  sudden  paroxysm 
of  ungovernable  passion.  "  Why,  she's  a  liar  to  the  end  ! 
Where  is  she]  Not  there — not  in  heaven — not  perished — 
where  %  Oh,  you  said  you  cared  nothing  for  my  sufferings  ! 
And  I  pray  one  prayer — I  repeat  it  till  my  tongue  stiffens — 
Catherine  Earnshaw,  may  you  not  rest  as  long  as  I  am  living  ! 
You  said  I  killed  you — haunt  me  then  !  The  murdered  do 
haunt  their  murderers,  I  believe  ;  I  know  that  ghosts  have 
wandered  on  earth.  Be  with  me  always — take  any  form — drive 
me  mad  !  only  do  not  leave  me  in  this  abyss  where  I  can  not 
find  you  !  Oh,  God  !  it  is  unutterable  !  I  can  not  live  without 
my  life  !  I  can  not  live  without  my  soul !" 

He  dashed  his  head  against  the  knotted  trunk ;  and,  lifting  up 
his  eyes,  howled,  not  like  a  man,  but  like  a  savage  beast  getting 
goaded  to  death  with  knives  and  spears. 

I  observed  several  splashes  of  blood  about  the  bark  of  the 
tree,  and  his  hand  and  forehead  were  both  stained;  probably 
the  scene  I  witnessed  was  a  repetition  of  others  acted  during  the 
night.  It  hardly  moved  my  compassion — it  appalled  me  ;  still  I 
felt  reluctant  to  quit  him  so.  But  the  moment  he  recollected 
himself  enough  to  notice  me  watching,  he  thundered  a  command 
for  me  to  go,  and  I  obeyed.  He  was  beyond  my  skill  to  quiet 
or  console ! 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  147 

Mrs.  Linton's  funeral  was  appointed  to  take  place  on  the 
Friday  following  her  decease ;  and  till  then  her  coffin  remained 
uncovered,  and  strewn  with  flowers  and  scented  leaves,  in  the 
great  drawing-room.  Linton  spent  his  days  and  nights  there,  a 
sleepless  guardian  ;  and — a  circumstance  concealed  from  all 
but  me — Heathcliff  spent  his  nights,  at  least,  outside,  equally  a 
stranger  to  repose. 

I  held  no  communication  with  him ;  still  I  was  conscious  of 
his  design  to  enter,  if  he  could ;  and  on  the  Tuesday,  a  little 
after  dark,  when  my  master,  from  sheer  fatigue,  had  been  com- 
pelled to  retire  a  couple  of  hours,  I  went  and  opened  one  of  the 
windows,  moved  by  his  perseverance  to  give  him  a  chance  of 
bestowing  on  the  fading  image  of  his  idol  one  final  adieu. 

He  did  not  omit  to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity,  cautiously 
and  briefly ;  too  cautiously  to  betray  his  presence  by  the  slight- 
est noise ;  indeed,  I  shouldn't  have  discovered  that  he  had  been 
there,  except  for  the  disarrangement  of  the  drapery  about  the 
corpse's  face,  and  for  observing  on  the  floor  a  curl  of  light  hair, 
fastened  with  a  silver  thread,  which,  on  examination,  I  ascer- 
tained to  have  been  taken  from  a  locket  hung  round  Catherine's 
neck.  Heathcliff  had  opened  the  trinket,  and  cast  out  its  con- 
tents, replacing  them  by  a  black  lock  of  his  own.  I  twisted  the 
two,  and  enclosed  them  together. 

Mr.  Earnshaw  was,  of  course,  invited  to  attend  the  remains 
of  his  sister  to  the  grave,  and  he  sent  no  excuse,  but  he  never 
came  ;  so  that  besides  her  husband,  the  mourners  were  wholly 
composed  of  tenants  and  servants.     Isabella  was  not  asked. 

The  place  of  Catherine's  interment,  to  the  surprise  of  the 
villagers,  was  neither  in  the  chapel  under  the  carved  monument 
of  the  Lintons,  nor  yet  by  the  tombs  of  her  own  relations,  out* 
side.  It  was  dug  on  a  green  slope,  in  a  comer  of  the  kirkyard, 
where  the  wall  is  so  low  that  heath  and  bilberry  plants  have 
climbed  over  it  from  the  moor ;  and  peat  mold  almost  buries  it. 
Her  husband  lies  in  the  same  spot,  now ;  and  they  have  each  a 
simple  headstone  above,  and  a  plain  gray  block  at  their  feet,  to 
mark  the  graves. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

That  Friday  made  the  last  of  our  fine  days,  for  a  month. 
In  the  evening  the  weather  broke ;  the  wind  shifted  from  south 
to  northeast,  and  brought  rain  first,  and  then  sleet  and  snow. 

On  the  morrow  one  could  hardly  imagine  that  there  had  been 
three  weeks  of  summer :  the  primroses  and  crocuses  were  hid- 
den under  wintry  drifts  :  the  larks  were  silent,  the  young  leaves 
of  the  early  trees  smitten  and  blackened. — And  dreary,  and 
chill,  and  dismal  that  morrow  did  creep  over !  My  master  kept 
his  room — I  took  possession  of  the  lonely  parlor,  converting  it 
into  a  nursery ;  and  there  I  was  sitting,  with  the  moaning  doll 
of  a  child  laid  on  my  knee,  rocking  it  to  and  fro ;  and  watching, 
meanwhile,  the  still  driving  flakes  build  up  the  uncurtained 
window,  when  the  door  opened,  and  some  person  entered,  out 
of  breath  and  laughing  ! 

My  anger  was  greater  than  my  astonishment  for  a  minute ;  I 
supposed  it  one  of  the  maids,  and  I  cried, 

"  Have  done  !  How  dare  you  show  your  giddiness  here  1 
What  would  Mr.  Linton  say  if  he  heard  you  I" 

"  Excuse  me  !"  answered  a  familiar  voice,  '•  but  I  know  Ed- 
gar is  in  bed,  and  I  can  not  stop  myself." 

With  that,  the  speaker  came  forward  to  the  fire,  panting  and 
holding  her  hand  to  her  side. 

"  I  have  run  the  whole  way  from  Wuthering  Heights !"  she 
continued,  after  a  pause.  "  Except  where  I've  flown.  I 
couldn't  count  the  number  of  falls  I've  had.  Oh,  I'm  aching 
all  over !  Don't  be  alarmed — there  shall  be  an  explanation  as 
soon  as  I  can  give  it — only  just  have  the  goodness  to  step  out, 
and  order  the  carriage  to  take  me  on  to  G-immerton,  and  tell  a 
servant  to  seek  up  a  few  clothes  in  my  wardrobe." 

The  intruder  was  Mrs.  Heathcliff — she  certainly  seemed  in 
no  laughing  predicament :  her  hair  streamed  on  her  shoulders, 
dripping  with  snow  and  water ;  she  was  dressed  in  the  girlish 
dress  she  commonly  wore,  befitting  her  age  more  than  her  po- 
sition ;  a  low  frock,  with  short  sleeves,  and  nothing  on  either 
head  or  neck.  The  frock  was  of  light  silk,  and  clung  to  her  with 
wet ;  and  her  feet  were  protected  merely  by  thin  slippers ;  add 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  149 

to  this  a  deep  cut  under  one  ear,  which  only  the  cold  prevented 
from  bleeding  profusely,  a  white  face  scratched  and  bruised,  and 
a  frame  hardly  able  to  support  itself,  through  fatigue,  and  you 
may  fancy  my  first  fright  was  not  much  allayed  when  I  had 
leisure  to  examine  her. 

11  My  dear  young  lady,"  I  exclaimed ;  "  I'll  stir  nowhere,  and 
hear  nothing,  till  you  have  removed  every  article  of  your  clothes, 
and  put  on  dry  things ;  and  certainly  you  shall  not  go  to  Gim- 
merton  to-night ;  so  it  is  needless  to  order  the  carriage." 

"  Certainly  I  shall,"  she  said  ;  "  walking  or  riding — yet  I've 
no  objection  to  dress  myself  decently ;  and — ah,  see  how  it  flows 
down  my  neck  now !  the  fire  does  make  it  smart." 

She  insisted  on  my  fulfilling  her  directions,  before  she  would 
let  me  touch  her;  and  not  till  after  the  coachman  had  been  in- 
structed to  get  ready,  and  a  maid  sent  to  pack  up  some  neces- 
sary attire,  did  I  obtain  her  consent  for  binding  the  wound,  and 
helping  to  change  her  garments. 

"  Now  Ellen,"  she  said  when  my  task  was  finished,  and  she 
was  seated  in  an  easy  chair  on  the  hearth,  with  a  cup  of  tea  be- 
fore her,  "  You  sit  down  opposite  me,  and  put  poor  Catherine's 
baby  away — I  don't  like  to  see  it !  You  mustn't  think  I  care 
little  for  Catherine,  because  I  behaved  so  foolishly  on  entering 
— I've  cried,  too,  bitterly — yes,  more  than  any  one  else  has 
reason  to  cry — we  parted  unreconciled,  you  remember,  and  I 
shan't  forgive  myself.  But  for  all  that  I  was  not  going  to  sym- 
pathize with  him — the  brute  beast!  O  give  me  the  poker !  this 
is  the  last  thing  of  his  I  have  about  me,"  she  slipped  the  gold 
ring  from  her  third  finger,  and  threw  it  on  the  floor.  "  I'll 
smash  it!"  she  continued,  striking  with  childish  spite.  "And 
then  I'll  burn  it !"  and  she  took  and  dropped  the  misused  arti- 
cle among  the  coals.  "  There  !  he  shall  buy  another  if  he  gets 
me  back  again.  He'd  be  capable  of  coming  to  seek  me,  to 
tease  Edgar.  I  dare  not  stay,  lest  that  notion  should  possess 
his  wicked  head  !  And  besides,  Edgar  has  not  been  kind,  has 
he  1  And  I  won't  come  suing  for  his  assistance ;  nor  will  I 
bring  him  into  more  trouble.  Necessity  compelled  me  to  seek 
shelter  here  ;  though  if  I  had  not  learned  he  was  out  of  the  way, 
I'd  have  halted  at  the  kitchen,  washed  my  face,  warmed  myself, 
got  you  to  bring  what  I  wanted,  and  departed  again  to  any 
where  out  of  the  reach  of  my  accursed — of  that  incarnate  gob- 
lin !  Ah,  he  was  in  such  a  fury — if  he  had  caught  me !  It's  a 
pity  Earnshaw  is  not  his  match  in  strength — I  wouldn't  have 


1 50  WUTHERING      HEIGHfl. 

run  till  I'd  seen  him  all  but  demolished,  had  Hindley  been  able 
to  do  it!" 

"  Well,  don't  talk  so  fast,  Miss,"  I  interrupted,  "  you'll  disor- 
der the  handkerchief  I  have  tied  round  your  face,  and  make  the 
cut  bleed  again.  Drink  your  tea,  and  take  breath,  and  give 
over  laughing.  Laughter  is  sadly  out  of  place  under  this  roof, 
and  in  your  condition !" 

"  An  undeniable  truth,"  she  replied,  "  Listen  to  that  chile  !  it 
maintains  a  constant  wail — send  it  out  of  my  hearing,  for  an 
hour  ;  I  shan't  stay  any  longer." 

I  rang  the  bell,  and  committed  it  to  a  servant's  care  ;  and 
then  I  inquired  what  had  urged  her  to  escape  from  Wuthering 
Heights  in  such  an  unlikely  plight — and  where  she  meant  to  go, 
as  she  refused  remaining  with  us. 

"  I  ought,  and  I  wish  to  remain,"  answered  she ;  "  to  cheer 
Edgar,  and  take  care  of  the  baby,  for  two  things,  and  because 
the  Grange  is  my  right  home — but  I  tell  you,  he  wouldn't  let 
me !  Do  you  think  he  could  bear  to  see  me  grow  fat,  and 
merry ;  and  could  bear  to  think  that  we  were  tranquil,  and  not 
resolve  on  poisoning  our  comfort  ?  Now  I  have  the  satisfaction 
of  being  sure  that  he  detests  me  to  to  the  point  of  its  annoying 
him  seriously  to  have  me  within  ear-shot  or  eye-sight.  I  notice 
when  I  enter  his  presence,  the  muscles  of  his  countenance  are 
involuntarily  distorted  into  an  expression  of  hatred;  partly  aris- 
ing from  his  knowledge  of  the  good  causes  I  have  to  feel  that 
sentiment  for  him,  and  partly  from  original  aversion.  It  is  strong 
enough  to  make  me  feel  pretty  certain  that  he  would  not  chase 
me  over  England,  supposing  I  contrived  a  clear  escape ;  and 
therefore  I  must  get  quite  away.  I've  recovered  from  my  first 
desire  to  be  killed  by  him :  I'd  rather  he'd  kill  himself!  He 
has  extinguished  my  love  effectually,  and  so  I'm  at  my  ease.  I 
can  recollect  yet  how  I  loved  him ;  and  can  dimly  imagine  that 
I  could  still  be  loving  him,  if — no,  no  !  Even,  if  he  had  doted 
on  me,  the  devilish  nature  would  have  revealed  its  existence 
somehow.  Catherine  had  an  awfully  perverted  taste  to  esteem 
him  so  dearly,  knowing  him  so  well.  Monster !  would  that  he 
could  be  blotted  out  of  creation,  and  out  of  my  memory  !" 

"  Hush,  hush  !  he's  a  human  being,"  I  said.  "  Be  more 
charitable;  there  are  worse  men  than  he  is,  yet!" 

"  He's  not  a  human  being,"  she  retorted ;  "  and  he  has  no 
claim  on  my  charity.  I  gave  him  my  heart,  and  he  took  and 
pinched  it  to  death ;  and  flung  it  back  to  me — people  feel  with 


WUTHERINO      HEIGHTS.  151 

their  hearts,  Ellen — and  since  he  has  destroyed  mine,  I  have 
not  power  to  feel  for  him ;  and  I  would  not,  though  he  groaned 
from  this  to  his  dying  day;  and  wept  tears  of  blood  for  Cathe- 
rine !  No,  indeed,  indeed,  I  wouldn't!"  And  here  Isabella  be- 
gan to  cry ;  but,  immediately  dashing  the  water  from  her  lashes, 
fihe  recommenced. 

"You  asked  what  has  driven  me  to  flight  at  last?  I  was 
compelled  to  attempt  it,  because  I  had  succeeded  in  rousing  his 
rage  a  pitch  above  his  malignity.  Pulling  out  the  nerves  with 
red  hot  pincers  requires  more  coolness  than  knocking  on  the 
head.  He  was  worked  up  to  forget  the  fiendish  prudence  he 
boasted  of,  and  proceeded  to  murderous  violence.  I  experi- 
enced pleasure  in  being  able  to  exasperate  him :  the  sense  of 
pleasure  woke  my  instinct  of  self-preservation ;  so  I  fairly  broke 
free,  and  if  ever  I  come  into  his  hands  again  he  is  welcome  to 
a  signal  revenge. 

"  Yesterday,  you  know,  Mr.  Earnshaw  should  have  been  at 
the  funeral.  He  kept  himself  sober  for  the  purpose — tolerably 
sober;  not  going  to  bed  mad  at  six  o'clock,  and  getting  up 
drunk  at  twelve.  Consequently  he  rose,  in  suicidal  low  spirits  ; 
as  fit  for  the  church  as  for  a  dance;  and  instead,  he  sat  down 
by  the  fire  and  swallowed  gin  or  brandy  by  tumblerfuls. 

"  Heathcliff — I  shudder  to  name  him  !  has  been  a  stranger  in 
the  house  from  last  Sunday  till  to-day.  Whether  the  angels 
have  fed  him,  or  his  kin  beneath,  I  can  not  tell ;  but  he  has  not 
eaten  a  meal  with  us  for  nearly  a  week.  He  had  just  come 
home  at  dawn,  and  gone  up-stairs  to  his  chamber ;  locking  him- 
self in — as  if  any  body  dreamed  of  coveting  his  company  !  There 
he  continued,  praying  like  a  Methodist;  only  the  deity  he  im- 
plored is  senseless  dust  and  ashes ;  and  God,  when  addressed, 
was  curiously  confounded  wTith  his  own  black  father  !  After 
concluding  these  precious  orisons — and  they  lasted  generally  till 
he  grew  hoarse,  and  his  voice  was  strangled  in  his  throat — he 
would  be  off  again  ;  always  straight  down  to  the  Grange !  I 
wonder  Edgar  did  not  send  for  a  constable,  and  give  him  into 
custody  !  For  me,  grieved  as  I  was  about  Catherine,  it  was  im- 
possible to  avoid  regarding  this  season  of  deliverance  from  de- 
grading oppression  as  a  holiday. 

"  I  recovered  spirits  sufficient  to  hear  Joseph's  eternal  lectures 
without  weeping;  and  to  move  up  and  down  the  house  less 
with  the  foot  of  a  frightened  thief  than  formerly.  You  wouldn't 
think  that  I  should  cry  at  any  thing  Joseph  could  say,  but  he 


152  WUTH  BRING      HEIGHTS. 

and  Hareton  are  detestable  companions.  I'd  rather  sit  with 
Hindley,  and  hear  his  awful  talk,  than  with  't'  little  maister/ 
and  his  staunch  supporter,  that  odious  old  man ! 

"  When  Heathcliff  is  in,  I'm  often  obliged  to  seek  the  kitchen 
and  their  society,  or  starve  among  the  damp,  uninhabited  cham- 
bers ;  when  he  is  not,  as  was  the  case  this  week,  I  establish  a 
table  and  chair,  at  one  corner  of  the  house-fire,  and  never  mind 
how  Mr.  Earnshaw  may  occupy  himself;  and  he  does  not  inter- 
fere with  my  arrangements :  he  is  quieter  now  than  he  used  to 
be,  if  no  one  provokes  him  ;  more  sullen  and  depressed,  and  less 
furious.  Joseph  affirms  he's  sure  he's  an  altered  man  ;  that  the 
Lord  has  touched  his  heart,  and  he  is  saved  '  so  as  by  fire.'  I'm 
puzzled  to  detect  signs  of  the  favorable  change,  but  it  is  not  my 
business. 

"  Yester-evening,  I  sat  in  my  nook,  reading  some  old  books, 
till  late  on  toward  twelve.  It  seemed  so  dismal  to  go  up-stairs, 
with  the  wild  snow  blowing  outside,  and  my  thoughts  contin- 
ually reverting  to  the  kirkyard,  and  the  new  made  grave  !  I 
dared  hardly  lift  my  eyes  from  the  page  before  me,  that  melan- 
choly scene  so  instantly  usurped  its  place. 

"  Hindley  sat  opposite,  his  head  leaned  on  his  hand,  perhaps 
meditating  on  the  same  subject.  He  had  ceased  drinking  at  a 
point  below  irrationality,  and  had  neither  stirred  nor  spoken 
during  two  or  three  hours.  There  was  no  sound  through  the 
house,  but  the  moaning  wind  which  shook  the  windows  every 
now  and  then ;  the  faint  crackling  of  the  coals ;  and  the  click 
of  my  snuffers  as  I  removed  at  intervals  the  long  wick  of  the 
candle.  Hareton  and  Joseph  were  probably  fast  asleep  in  bed. 
It  was  very,  very  sad,  and  while  I  read  I  sighed,  for  it  seemed 
as  if  all  joy  had  vanished  from  the  world,  never  to  be  restored. 

The  doleful  silence  was  broken,  at  length,  by  the  sound  of 
the  kitchen  latch.  Heathcliff  had  returned  from  his  watch 
earlier  than  usual,  owing,  I  suppose,  to  the  sudden  storm. 

"That  entrance  was  fastened;  and  we  heard  him  coming 
round  to  get  in  by  the  other.  I  rose  with  an  irrepressible  ex- 
pression of  what  I  felt  on  my  lips,  which  induced  my  companion, 
who  had  been  staring  toward  the  door,  to  turn  and  look  at  me. 

"  I'll  keep  him  out  five  minutes,"  he  exclaimed  ;  "  you  won't 
object  %" 

"  No,  you  may  keep  him  out  the  whole  night,  for  me,"  I  an- 
swered.    "  Do  !  put  the  key  in  the  lock,  and  draw  the  bolts." 

Earnshaw  accomplished  this  ere  his  guest  reached  the  front ; 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  153 

he  then  came  and  brought,  his  chair  to  the  other  side  of  my  table  ; 
leaning  over  it,  and  searching  in  my  eyes  a  sympathy  with  the 
burning  hate  that  gleamed  from  his  :  as  he  both  looked  and  felt 
like  an  assassin,  he  couldn't  exactly  find  that ;  but  he  discovered 
enough  to  encourage  him  to  speak. 

"  '  You,  and  I,'  he  said,  '  have  each  a  great  debt  to  settle  with 
the  man  out  yonder !  If  we  were  neither  of  us  cowards  we 
might  combine  to  discharge  it.  Are  you  as  soft  as  your  brother  1 
Are  you  willing  to  endure  to  the  last,  and  not  once  attempt  a 
repayment  V 

"  '  I'm  weary  of  enduring  now ;'  I  replied,  '  and  I'd  be  glad 
of  a  retaliation  that  wouldn't  recoil  on  myself;  but  treachery 
and  violence  are  spears  pointed  at  both  ends — they  wound  those 
who  resort  to  them  worse  than  their  enemies.' 

"  '  Treachery  and  violence  are  a  just  return  for  treachery  and 
violence  !'  cried  Hindley.  '  Mrs.  HeathclhT,  I'll  ask  you  to  do 
nothing  but  sit  still  and  be  dumb.  Tell  me  now,  can  you  ]  I'm 
sure  you  would  have  as  much  pleasure  as  I  in  witnessing  the 
conclusion  of  the  fiend's  existence.  He'll  be  your  death  unless 
you  overreach  him — and  he'll  be  my  ruin.  Damn  the  hellish 
villain !  He  knocks  at  the  door  as  if  he  were  master  here  al- 
ready !  Promise  to  hold  your  tongue,  and  before  that  clock 
strikes — it  wrants  three  minutes  of  one — you're  a  free  woman !' 

"  He  took  the  implements  which  I  described  to  you  in  my 
letter  from  his  breast,  and  would  have  turned  down  the  candle; 
I  snatched  it  away,  however,  and  seized  his  arm. 

"  '  I'll  not  hold  my  tongue  !'  I  said.  '  You  mustn't  touch  him. 
Let  the  door  remain  shut,  and  be  quiet !' 

"  '  No  !  I've  formed  my  resolution,  and  by  God  I'll  execute 
it!'  cried  the  desperate  being;  '  I'll  do  you  a  kindness,  in  spite 
of  yourself,  and  Hareton  justice  !  And  you  needn't  trouble  your 
head  to  screen  me.  Catherine  is  gone — nobody  alive  would  re- 
gret me,  or  be  ashamed  though  I  cut  my  throat  this  minute — 
and  it's  time  to  make  an  end  !' 

"  I  might  as  well  have  struggled  with  a  bear,  or  reasoned  with 
a  lunatic.  The  only  resource  left  me  was  to  run  to  a  lattice, 
and  warn  his  intended  victim  of  the  fate  which  awaited  him. 

" '  You'd  better  seek  shelter  somewhere  else  to-night !'  I  ex- 
claimed in  a  rather  triumphant  tone.  '  Mr.  Earnshaw  has  a 
mind  to  shoot  you,  if  you  persist  in  endeavoring  to  enter.' 

" '  You'd  better  open  the  door,  you ,'  he  answered,  ad- 
dressing me  by  some  elegant  term  that  I  don't  care  to  repeat, 


154  WUTHERTNG      HEIGHTS 

"  '  I  shall  not  meddle  in  the  matter,'  I  retorted  again.  '  Come 
in  and  get  shot,  if  you  please.     I've  done  my  duty.' 

"  With  that  I  shut  the  window,  and  returned  to  my  place  by 
the  fire,  having  too  small  a  stock  of  hypocrisy  at  my  command 
to  pretend  any  anxiety  for  the  danger  that  menaced  him. 

"  Earnshaw  swore  passionately  at  me,  affirming  that  I  loved 
the  villain  yet,  and  calling  me  all  sorts  of  names  for  the  base 
spirit  I  evinced.  And  I,  in  my  secret  heart  (and  conscience  never 
reproached  me),  thought  what  a  blessing  it  would  be  for  him 
should  Heathcliff  put  him  out  of  misery,  and  what  a  blessing  for 
Me  should  he  send  Heathcliff  to  his  right  abode !  As  I  sat 
nursing  these  reflections,  the  casement  behind  me  was  banged 
upon  the  floor  by  a  blow  from  the  latter  individual,  and  his 
black  countenance  looked  blightingly  through.  The  stanchions 
stood  too  close  to  suffer  his  shoulders  to  follow,  and  I  smiled, 
exulting  in  my  fancied  security.  His  hair  and  clothes  were 
whitened  with  snow,  and  his  sharp  cannibal  teeth,  revealed  by 
cold  and  wrath,  gleamed  through  the  dark. 

"'  Isabella,  let  me  in,  or  I'll  make  you  repent!'  he  '  girned,' 
as  Joseph  calls  it. 

"  '  I  can  not  commit  murder  !'  I  replied.  '  Mr.  Hindley  stands 
sentinel,  with  a  knife  and  loaded  pistol.' 

"  '  Let  me  in  by  the  kitchen  door,'  he  said. 

"  '  Hindley  will  be  there  before  me,'  I  answered.  *  And  that's 
a  poor  love  of  yours,  that  can  not  bear  a  shower  of  snow  !  "We 
were  left  at  peace  in  our  beds  as  long  as  the  summer  moon 
shone,  but  the  moment  a  blast  of  winter  returns  you  must  run 
for  shelter  !  Heathcliff,  if  I  were  you  I'd  go  stretch  myself  over 
her  grave,  and  die  like  a  faithful  dog.  The  world  is  surely  not 
worth  living  in  now,  is  it  ]  You  had  distinctly  impressed  on  me 
the  idea  that  Catherine  was  the  whole  joy  of  your  life.  I  can't 
imagine  how  you  think  of  surviving  her  loss.' 

"  '  He's  there,  is  he  V  exclaimed  my  companion,  rushing  to  the 
gap.     '  If  I  can  get  my  arm  out  I  can  hit  him.' 

"  I'm  afraid,  Ellen,  you'll  set  me  down  as  really  wicked  ;  but 
you  don't  know  all,  so  don't  judge.  I  wouldn't  have  aided  or 
abetted  an  attempt  on  even  his  life,  for  any  thing.  Wish  that 
he  were  dead  I  must ;  and  therefore  I  was  fearfully  disappointed, 
and  unnerved  by  terror  for  the  consequences  of  my  taunting 
speech,  when  he  flung  himself  on  Earnshaw's  weapon  and 
wrenched  it  from  his  grasp.  The  charge  exploded,  and  the 
knife,  in  springing  back,  closed  into  its  owner's  wrist.     Heath- 


WUTHiEINO      HEIGHTS*.  155 

Cliff  pulled  it  away  by  main  force,  slitting  up  the  flesh  as  it  pass- 
ed on,  and  thrust  it  dripping  into  his  pocket.  He  then  took  a 
stone,  struck  down  the  division  between  two  windows,  and 
sprung  in.  His  adversary  had  fallen  senseless  with  excessive 
pain,  and  the  flow  of  blood  that  gushed  from  an  artery  or  a  large 
vein. 

"  The  ruffian  kicked  and  trampled  on  him,  and  dashed  his 
head  repeatedly  against  the  flags,  holding  me  with  one  hand, 
meantime,  to  prevent  me  summoning  Joseph.  He  exerted  pre- 
terhuman self-denial  in  abstaining  from  finishing  him  completely; 
but,  getting  out  of  breath,  he  finally  desisted,  and  dragged  the 
apparently  inanimate  body  to  the  settle.  There  he  tore  off  the 
sleeve  of  Earnshaw's  coat,  and  bound  up  the  wound  with  brutal 
roughness,  spitting  and  cursing  during  the  operation  as  energeti- 
cally as  he  had  kicked  before.  Being  at  liberty,  I  lost  no  time 
in  seeking  the  old  servant,  who,  having  gathered  by  degrees  the 
purport  of  my  hasty  tale,  hurried  below,  gasping,  as  he  descended 
the  steps,  two  at  once. 

"  '  Whet  is  thur  tuh  do,  nah  1  whet  is  thur  tub  do,  nah  V 

" '  There's  this  to  do,'  thundered  Heathcliff,  '  that  your  mas- 
ter's mad,  and,  should  he  last  another  month,  I'll  have  him  to  an 
asylum.  And  how  the  devil  did  you  come  to  fasten  me  out,  you 
toothless  hound  1  Don't  stand  muttering  and  mumbling  there. 
Come,  I'm  not  going  to  nurse  him.  Wash  that  stuff  away — and 
mind  the  sparks  of  your  candle — it  is  more  than  half  brandy  !' 

"  Und  soa,  yah  been  murthering  on  him  V  exclaimed  Joseph, 
lifting  his  hands  and  eyes  in  horror.  '  If  iver  aw  seed  a  seeght 
loike  this  !     May  the  Lord — ' 

"  Heathcliff  gave  him  a  push  upon  his  knees,  in  the  middle 
of  the  blood  ;  and  flung  a  towel  to  him  ;  but  instead  of  proceed- 
ing to  dry  it  up,  he  joined  his  hands,  and  began  a  prayer  which 
excited  my  laughter  from  its  odd  phraseology.  I  was  in  the 
condition  of  mind  to  be  shocked  at  nothing ;  in  fact,  I  was  as 
reckless  as  some  malefactors  show  themselves  at  the  foot  of  the 
gallows. 

" '  Oh,  I  forgot  you,'  said  the  tyrant,  '  you  shall  do  that. 
Down  with  you.  And  you  conspire  with  him  against  me,  do 
you,  viper  1     There,  that  is  work  fit  for  you!' 

"  He  shook  me  till  my  teeth  rattled,  and  pitched  me  beside 
Joseph,  who  steadily  concluded  his  supplications,  and  then  rose, 
vowing  he  would  set  off*  for  the  Grange  directly.  Mr.  Linton, 
was  a  magistrate,  and  though  he  had  fifty  wives  dead,  he  should 


156  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

inquire  into  this.  He  was  so  obstinate  in  his  resolution  that 
Heathcliff  deemed  it  expedient  to  compel  from  my  lips  a  re- 
capitulation of  what  had  taken  place ;  standing  over  me,  heav- 
ing with  malevolence,  as  I  reluctantly  delivered  the  account  in 
answer  to  his  questions.  It  required  a  great  deal  of  labor  to  ' 
satisfy  the  old  man  that  he  was  not  the  aggressor ;  especially 
with  my  hardly-wrung  replies.  However,  Mr.  Earnshawsoon 
convinced  him  that  he  was  alive  still ;  he  hastened  to  administer 
a  dose  of  spirits,  and  by  their  succor  his  master  presently  regain- 
ed motion  and  consciousness.  Heathcliff,  aware  that  he  was 
ignorant  of  the  treatment  received  while  insensible,  called  him 
deliriously  intoxicated ;  and  said  he  should  not  notice  his  atro- 
cious conduct  further ;  but  advised  him  to  get  to  bed.  To  my 
joy,  he  left  us  after  giving  this  judicious  counsel,  and  Hindley 
stretched  himself  on  the  hearth- stone.  I  departed  to  my  own 
room,  marveling  that  I  had  escaped  so  easily. 

"  This  morning,  when  I  came  down,  about  half  an  hour  before 
noon,  Mr.  Earnshaw  was  sitting  by  the  fire,  deadly  sick ;  his 
evil  genius,  almost  as  gaunt  and  ghastly,  leaned  against  the  chim- 
ney. Neither  appeared  inclined  to  dine ;  and  having  waited 
till  all  was  cold  on  the  table,  I  commenced  alone.  Nothing 
hindered  me  from  eating  heartily ;  and  I  experienced  a  certain 
sense  of  satisfaction  and  superiority,  as,  at  intervals,  I  cast  a 
look  toward  my  silent  companions,  and  felt  the  comfort  of  a 
quiet  conscience  within  me. 

"After  I  had  done,  I  ventured  on  the  unusual  liberty  of 
drawing  near  the  fire ;  going  round  Earnshaw's  seat,  and 
kneeling  in  the  corner  beside  him.  Heathcliff  did  not  glance 
my  way,  and  I  gazed  up,  and  contemplated  his  features,  almost 
as  confidently  as  if  they  had  been  turned  to  stone.  His  fore- 
head, that  I  once  thought  so  manly,  and  that  I  now  think  so 
diabolical,  was  shaded  with  a  heavy  cloud ;  his  basilisk  eyes 
were  nearly  quenched  by  sleeplessness — and  weeping,  perhaps, 
for  the  lashes  were  wet  then ;  his  lips  devoid  of  their  ferocious 
sneer,  and  sealed  in  an  expression  of  unspeakable  sadness.  Had 
it  been  another,  I  would  have  covered  my  face,  in  the  presence 
of  such  grief.  In  his  case,  I  was  gratified :  and  ignoble  as  it 
seems  to  insult  a  fallen  enemy,  I  couldn't  miss  this  chance  of 
sticking  in  a  dart ;  his  weakness  was  the  only  time  when  I  could 
taste  the  delight  of  paying  wrong  for  wrong. 

"  Fie,  fie,  Miss  !"  I  interrupted.  "  One  might  suppose  you 
had  never  opened  a  Bible  in  your  life.     If  God  afflict  your 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  157 

enemies,  surely  that  ought  to  suffice  you.     It  is  both  mean  and 
presumptuous  to  add  your  torture  to  his  !" 

"  In  genera],  I'll  allow  that  it  would  be,  Ellen,"  she  continued 
"  But  what  misery  laid  on  HeathclifF  could  content  me,  unless 
I  have  a  hand  in  it  ]  I'd  rather  he  suffered  less,  if  I  might 
cause  his  sufferings,  and  he  might  know  that  I  was  the  cause. 
Oh,  I  owe  him  so  much.  On  only  one  condition  can  I  hope  to 
forgive  him.  It  is,  if  I  may  take  an  eye  for  an  eye,  a  tooth  for 
a  tooth,  for  every  wrench  of  agony,  return  a  wrench,  reduce 
him  to  my  level.  As  he  was  the  first  to  injure,  make  him  the 
first  to  implore  pardon  ;  and  then — why  then,  Ellen,  I  might 
show  you  some  generosity.  But  it  is  utterly  impossible  I 
can  ever  be  revenged,  and  therefore  I  can  not  forgive  him. 
Hindley  wanted  some  water,  and  I  handed  him  a  glass,  and 
asked  him  how  he  was." 

" '  Not  as  ill  as  I  wish,'  he  replied.  '  But  leaving  out  ray 
arm,  every  inch  of  me  is  as  sore  as  if  I  had  been  fighting  with  a 
legion  of  imps!' 

"  ■  Yes,  no  wonder,'  was  my  next  remark.  ■  C  atherine  used  to 
boast  that  she  stood  between  you  and  bodily  harm — she  meant 
that  certain  persons  would  not  hurt  you,  for  fear  of  offending 
her.  It's  well  people  don't  really  rise  from  the  grave,  or,  last 
night,  she  might  have  witnessed  a  repulsive  scene  !  Are  not 
you  bruised  and  cut  over  your  chest  and  shoulders  V 

"  '  I  can't  say,'  he  answered ;  '  but  what  do  you  mean  1 
Did  he  dare  to  strike  me  when  I  was  down  V 

"  *  He  trampled  on,  and  kicked  you,  and  dashed  you  on  the 
ground,'  I  whispered.  '  And  his  mouth  watered  to  tear  you 
with  his  teeth;  because,  he's  only  half  a  man — not  so  much.' 

"  Mr.  Earnshaw  looked  up,  like  me,  to  the  countenance  of 
our  mutual  foe  ;  who,  absorbed  in  his  anguish,  seemed  in- 
sensible to  any  thing  around  him ;  the  longer  he  stood,  the 
plainer  his  reflections  revealed  their  blackness  through  his 
features. 

"  '  Oh,  if  God  would  but  give  me  strength  to  strangle  him  in 
my  last  agony,  I'd  go  to  hell  with  joy,'  groaned  the  impatient 
man,  writhing  to  rise,  and  sinking  back  in  despair,  convinced  of 
his  inadequacy  for  the  struggle. 

"  '  Nay,  it's  enough  that  he  has  murdered  one  of  you,'  I  ob- 
served aloud.  ■  At  the  Grange,  every  one  knows  your  sister 
would  have  been  living  now  had  it  not  been  for  Mr.  HeathclifE 
After  all,  it  is  preferable  to  be  hated  than  loved  by  him.    When 


1 58  WUTHERlNfl     HEIGHTS. 

I  recollect  how  happy  we  were — how  happy  Catherine  was  be- 
fore he  came — I'm  fit  to  curse  the  day.' 

"  Most  likely,  Heathcliff  noticed  more  the  truth  of  what  was 
said,  than  the  spirit  of  the  person  who  said  it.  His  attention 
was  roused,  I  saw,  for  his  eyes  rained  down  tears  among  the 
ashes,  and  he  drew  his  breath  in  suffocating  sighs.  I  stared  full 
at  him,  and  laughed  scornfully.  The  clouded  windows  of  hell 
flashed  a  moment  toward  me ;  the  fiend  which  usually  looked 
out,  however,  was  so  dimmed  and  drowned  that  I  did  not  fear 
to  hazard  another  sound  of  derision. 

"  '  Get  up,  and  begone  out  of  my  sight,'  said  the  mourner. 

"  I  guessed  he  uttered  those  words,  at  least,  though  his  voice 
was  hardly  intelligible. 

"'1  beg  your  pardon,'  I  replied.  'But  I  loved  Catherine 
too ;  and  her  brother  requires  attendance  which,  for  her  sake,  I 
shall  supply.  Now  that  she's  dead,  I  see  her  in  Hindley.  Hind- 
ley  has  exactly  her  eyes,  if  you  had  not  tried  to  gouge  them  out, 
and  made  them  black  and  red,  and  her — ' 

" i  Get  up,  wretched  idiot,  before  I  stamp  you  to  death  !'  he 
cried,  making  a  movement  that  caused  me  to  make  one  also. 

"'But  then,'  I  continued,  holding  myself  ready  to  flee;  'if 
poor  Catherine  had  trusted  you,  and  assumed  the  ridiculous, 
contemptible,  degrading  title  of  Mrs.  Heathcliff,  she  would  soon 
have  presented  a  similar  picture !  She  wouldn't  have  borne 
your  abominable  behavior  quietly ;  her  detestation  and  disgust 
must  have  found  voice. 

"  The  back  of  the  settle,  and  Earnshaw's  person  interposed 
between  me  and  him ;  so,  instead  of  endeavoring  to  reach  me, 
he  snatched  a  dinner  knife  from  the  table,  and  flung  it  at  my 
head.  It  struck  beneath  my  ear,  and  stopped  the  sentence  1, 
was  uttering;  but  pulling  it  out,  I  sprang  to  the  door,  and 
delivered  another  which  I  hope  went  a  little  deeper  than  his 
missile. 

"  The  last  glimpse  I  caught  of  him  was  a  furious  rush,  on  his 
part,  checked  by  the  embrace  of  his  host;  and  both  fell  locked 
together  on  the  hearth.  In  my  flight  through  the  kitchen  I  bid 
Joseph  speed  to  his  master;  I  knocked  over  Hareton,  who  was 
hanging  a  litter  of  puppies  from  a  chair-back  in  the  doorway; 
and,  blest  as  a  soul  escaped  from  purgatory,  I  bounded,  leaped, 
and  flew  down  the  steep  road  :  then,  quitting  its  windings,  shot 
direct  across  the  moor,  rolling  over  banks,  and  wading  through 
marshes ;  precipitating  myself,  in  fact,  toward  the  beacon  light 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  159 

of  the  Grange.  And  far  rather  would  I  be  condemned  to  a 
perpetual  dwelling  in  the  infernal  regions,  than  even  for  one 
night  abide  beneath  the  roof  of  Wuthering  Heights  again." 

Isabella  ceased  speaking,  and  took  a  drink  of  tea ;  then  she 
rose,  and  bidding  me  put  on  her  bonnet,  and  a  great  shawl  I 
had  brought,  and  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  my  entreaties  for  her  to 
remain  another  hour,  she  stepped  upon  a  chair,  kissed  Edgar's 
and  Catherine's  portraits,  bestowed  a  similar  salute  on  me,  and 
descended  to  the  carriage,  accompanied  by  Fanny,  who  yelped 
wild  with  joy  at  recovering  her  mistress.  She  was  driven  away, 
never  to  revisit  this  neighborhood;  but  a  regular  correspondence 
was  established  between  her  and  my  master,  when  things  were 
more  settled. 

I  believe  her  new  abode  was  in  the  south,  near  London;  there 
she  had  a  son  born,  a  few  months  subsequent  to  her  escape.  He 
was  christened  Linton,  and,  from  the  first,  she  reported  him  to 
be  an  ailing,  peevish  creature.  Mr.  Heath  cliff,  meeting  me  one 
day  in  the  village,  inquired  where  she  lived.  I  refused  to  tell. 
He  remarked  that  it  was  not  of  any  moment,  only  she  must  be- 
ware of  coming  to  her  brother ;  she  should  not  be  with  him,  if 
he  had  to  keep  her  himself. 

Though  I  would  give  no  information,  he  discovered,  through 
some  of  the  other  servants,  both  her  place  of  residence,  and  the 
existence  of  the  child.  Still  he  didn't  molest  her;  for  which 
forbearance  she  might  thank  his  aversion,  I  suppose.  He  often 
asked  about  the  infant  when  he  saw  me ;  and  on  hearing  its 
name,  smiled  grimly,  and  observed : 

*  They  wish  me  to  hate  it  too,  do  they  V 

"  I  don't  think  they  wish  you  to  know  any  thing  about  it,"  I 
answered. 

"But  I'll  have  it,"  he  said,  "when  I  want  it.  They  may 
reckon  on  that !" 

Fortunately,  its  mother  died  before  the  time  arrived,  some 
thirteen  years  after  the  decease  of  Catherine,  when  Linton  was 
twelve,  or  a  little  more. 

On  the  day  succeeding  Isabella's  unexpected  visit,  I  had  no 
opportunity  of  speaking  to  my  master  :  he  shunned  conversation, 
and  was  fit  for  discussing  nothing.  When  I  could  get  him  to 
listen,  I  saw  it  pleased  him  that  his  sister  had  left  her  husband, 
whom  he  abhorred  with  an  intensity  which  the  mildness  of  his 
nature  would  scarcely  seem  to  allow.  So  deep  and  sensitive 
was  his  aversion,  that  he  retrained  from  going  any  where  where 


]  60  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

he  was  likely  to  see  or  hear  of  Heath  cliff.  Grief  and  that  to- 
gether transformed  him  into  a  complete  hermit :  he  threw  up 
his  office  of  magistrate,  ceased  even  to  attend  church,  avoided 
the  village  on  all  occasions,  and  spent  a  life  of  entire  seclusion 
within  the  limits  of  his  park  and  grounds  :  only  varied  by  soli- 
tary rambles  on  the  moors,  and  visits  to  the  grave  of  his  wife, 
mostly  at  evening,  or  early  morning,  before  other  wanderers 
were  abroad. 

But  he  was  too  good  to  be  thoroughly  unhappy  long.  He 
didn't  pray  for  Catherine's  soul  to  haunt  him.  Time  brought 
resignation,  and  a  melancholy  sweeter  than  common  joy.  He 
recalled  her  memory  with  ardent,  tender  love,  and  hopeful 
aspiring  to  the  better  world,  where,  he  doubted  not  she  was  gone. 

And  he  had  earthly  consolation  and  affections  also.  For  a 
few  days,  I  said,  he  seemed  regardless  of  the  puny  successor  to 
the  departed  :  that  coldness  melted  as  fast  as  snow  in  April, 
and  ere  the  tiny  thing  could  stammer  a  word  or  totter  a  step,  it 
wielded  a  despot's  scepter  in  his  heart.  It  was  named  Cath- 
erine, but  he  never  called  it  the  name  in  full,  as  he  had  never 
called  the  first  Catherine  short,  probably  because  HeathclifT 
had  a  habit  of  doing  so.  The  little  one  was  always  Cathy,  it 
formed  to  him  a  distinction  from  the  mother,  and  yet,  a  con- 
nection with  her ;  and  his  attachment  sprang  from  its  relation  to 
her,  far  more  than  from  its  being  his  own. 

I  used  to  draw  a  comparison  between  him  and  Hindley 
Earnshaw,  and  perplex  myself  to  explain  satisfactorily  why 
their  conduct  was  so  opposite  in  similar  circumstances.  They 
had  both  been  fond  husbands,  and  were  both  attached  to  their 
children ;  and  I  could  not  see  how  they  shouldn't  both  have 
taken  the  same  road,  for  good  or  evil.  But,  I  thought  in  my 
mind,  Hindley  with  apparently  the  stronger  head,  has  shown 
himself  sadly  the  worse  and  the  weaker  man.  When  his  ship 
struck,  the  captain  abandoned  his  post ;  and  the  crew,  instead 
of  trying  to  save  her,  rushed  into  riot  and  confusion,  leaving  no 
hope  for  their  luckless  vessel.  Linton,  on  the  contrary,  dis- 
played the  true  courage  of  a  loyal  and  faithful  soul :  he  trusted 
God— and  God  comforted  him.  One  hoped,  and  the  other 
despaired  :  they  chose  their  own  lots,  and  were  righteously 
doomed  to  endure  them. — 

But  you'll  not  want  to  hear  my  moralizing,  Mr.  Lockwood  : 
you'll  judge  as  well  as  I  can,  all  these  things ;  at  least,  you'll 
think  you  will,  and  that's  the  same. — 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  161 

The  end  of  Earnshaw  was  what  might  have  been  expected  : 
it  followed  fast  on  his  sister's ;  there  was  scarcely  six  months 
between  them.  We,  at  the  Grange,  never  got  a  very  succinct 
account  of  his  state  preceding  it ;  all  that  I  did  learn,  was  on 
occasion  of  going  to  aid  in  the  preparations  for  the  funeral.  Mr. 
Kenneth  came  to  announce  the  event  to  my  master. 

"  Well,  Nelly,"  said  he,  riding  into  the  yard  one  morning,  too 
early  not  to  alarm  me  with  an  instant  presentiment  of  bad  news. 
"  It's  your  and  my  turn  to  go  into  mourning  at  present.  Who's 
given  us  the  slip  now,  do  you  think  V 

"  Who  1"  I  asked  in  a  flurry. 

"Why,  guess!"  he  returned,  dismounting,  and  slinging  his 
bridle  on  a  hook  by  the  door.  "  And  nip  up  the  corner  of  your 
apron  ;  I'm  certain  you'll  need  it." 

"  Not  Mr.  Heathcliif,  surely  ]  I  exclaimed." 

"  What !  would  you  have  tears  for  him  V  said  the  doctor. 
No,  Heathcliff's  a  tough  young  fellow;  he  looks  blooming  to- 
day— I've  just  seen  him.  He's  rapidly  regaining  flesh  since  he 
lost  his  better  half. 

"  Who  is  it  then,  Mr.  Kenneth  V  I  repeated  impatiently. 

"  Hindley  Earnshaw  !  Your  old  friend  Hindley,"  he  replied. 
"  And  my  wicked  gossip  ;  though  he's  been  too  wild  for  me  this 
long  while.  There  !  I  said  we  should  draw  water.  But  cheer 
up  !  He  died  true  to  his  character,  drunk  as  a  lord.  Poor 
lad.  I'm  sorry  too.  One  can't  help  missing  an  old  companion  ; 
though  he  had  the  worst  tricks  with  him  that  ever  man  imagined; 
and  has  done  me  many  a  rascally  turn.  He's  barely  twenty- 
seven,  it  seems  ;  that's  your  own  age;  who  would  have  thought 
you  were  born  in  one  year  !" 

I  confess  this  blow  was  greater  to  me  than  the  shock  of  Mrs. 
Linton's  death  :  ancient  associations  lingered  round  my  heart ; 
I  sat  down  in  the  porch,  and  wept  as  for  a  blood  relation, 
desiring  Kenneth  to  get  another  servant  to  introduce  him  to  the 
master.  I  could  not  hinder  myself  from  pondering  on  the 
question — "Had  he  had  fair  play]"  Whatever  I  did,  that 
idea  would  bother  me  :  it  was  so  tiresomely  pertinacious  that  I 
resolved  on  requesting  leave  to  go  to  Wuthering  Heights,  and 
assist  in  the  last  duties  to  the  dead.  Mr.  Linton  was  extremely 
reluctant  to  consent,  but  I  pleaded  eloquently  for  the  friendless 
condition  in  which  he  lay  ;  and  I  said  my  old  master  and  foster 
brother  had  a  claim  on  my  services  as  strong  as  his  own.  Be- 
sides, I  reminded  him  that  the  child,  Hareton,  was  his  wife's 


1  62  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 


nephew;  and,  in  the  absence  of  nearer  kin,  he  ought  to  act  as 
its  guardian  ;  and  he  ought  to  and  must  inquire  how  the  prop- 
erty was  left,  and  look  over  the  concerns  of  his  brother-in-law. 

He  was  unfit  for  attending  to  such  matters  then,  but  he  bid 
me  speak  to  his  lawyer ;  and  at  length  permitted  me  to  go. 
His  lawyer  had  been  Earnshaw's  also :  I  called  at  the  village, 
and  asked  him  to  accompany  me.  He  shook  his  head,  and 
advised  that  Heathcliff  should  be  let  alone;  affirming,  if  the 
truth  were  known,  Hareton  would  be  found  little  else  than  a 
beggar. 

"  His  father  died  in  debt ;"  he  said,  "  the  whole  property  is 
mortgaged,  and  the  sole  chance  for  the  natural  heir  is  to  allow 
him  an  opportunity  of  creating  some  interest  in  the  creditor's 
heart,  that  he  may  be  inclined  to  deal  leniently  toward  him." 

When  I  reached  the  Heights,  I  explained  that  I  had  come  to 
see  every  thing  carried  on  decently,  and  Joseph,  who  appeared 
in  sufficient  distress,  expressed  satisfaction  at  my  presence. 
Mr.  Heathcliff  said  he  did  not  perceive  that  I  was  wanted,  but 
I  might  stay  and  order  the  arrangements  for  the  funeral,  if  I 
chose. 

"  Correctly,"  he  remarked,  "  that  fool's  body  should  be  buried 
at  the  cross-roads,  without  ceremony  of  any  kind.  I  happened 
to  leave  him  ten  minutes,  yesterday  afternoon,  and,  in  that  in- 
terval, he  fastened  the  two  doors  of  the  house  against  me,  and 
he  has  spent  the  night  in  drinking  himself  to  death  deliberately  ! 
We  broke  in  this  morning,  for  we  heard  him  snorting  like  a 
horse ;  and  there  he  was,  laid  over  the  settle — flaying  and 
scalping  would  not  have  wakened  him.  I  sent  for  Kenneth, 
and  he  came ;  but  not  till  the  beast  had  changed  into  carrion — 
he  was  both  dead,  and  cold,  and  stark  ;  and  so  you'll  allow,  it 
was  useless  making  more  stir  about  him  !" 

The  old  servant  confirmed  this  statement,  but  muttered, 

"Awd  rather  he'd  goan  hisseln  fur  t'doctor!  Aw  sud  uh 
taen  tent  uh  t'maister  better  nur  him — un  he  warn't  deead  when 
aw  left,  nowt  uh  t'soart !" 

I  insisted  on  the  funeral  being  respectable.  Mr.  Heathcliff 
said  I  might  have  my  own  way  there,  too ;  only,  he  desired  me 
to  remember,  that  the  money  for  the  whole  affair  came  out  of 
his  pocket. 

He  maintained  a  hard,  careless  deportment,  indicative  of 
neither  joy  nor  sorrow ;  if  any  thing,  it  expressed  a  flinty  grat- 
ification at  a  piece  of  difficult  workj  successfully  executed.     I 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  1(53 

observed  once,  indeed,  something  like  exultation  in  his  aspect. 
It  was  just  when  the  people  were  bearing  the  coffin  from  the 
house  ;  he  had  the  hypocrisy  to  represent  a  mourner  ;  and  pre- 
vious to  following  with  Hareton  he  lifted  the  unfortunate  child 
upon  the  table,  and  muttered  with  peculiar  gusto, 

"  Now  my  bonny  lad  you  are  mine  !  And  we'll  see  if  one 
tree  won't  grow  as  crooked  as  another,  with  the  same  wind  to 
twist  it!" 

The  unsuspecting  thing  was  pleased  at  this  speech ;  he  played 
with  HeathclifF's  whiskers,  and  stroked  his  cheek,  but  I  divined 
its  meaning,  and  observed  tartly, 

"  That  boy  must  go  back  with  me  to  Thrushcross  Grange,  sir. 
There  is  nothing  in  the  world  less  yours  than  he  is  !" 

"  Does  Linton  say  so  V  he  demanded. 

"  Of  course — he  has  ordered  me  to  take  him,"  I  replied. 

"Well,"  said  the  scoundrel,  "we'll  not  argue  the  subject  now  ; 
but  I  have  a  fancy  to  try  my  hand  at  rearing  a  young  one ;  so 
intimate  to  your  master,  that  I  must  supply  the  place  of  this 
with  my  own,  if  he  attempt  to  remove  it ;  I  don't  engage  to  let 
Hareton  go,  undisputed  ;  but  I'll  be  pretty  sure  to  make  the 
other  come  !  remember  to  tell  him." 

This  hint  was  enough  to  bind  our  hands.  I  repeated  its  sub- 
stance, on  my  return,  and  Edgar  Linton,  little  interested  at  the 
commencement,  spoke  no  more  of  interfering.  I'm  not  aware 
that  he  could  have  done  it  to  any  purpose  had  he  been  ever  so 
willing. 

The  guest  was  now  the  master  of  Wuthering  Heights :  he 
held  firm  possession,  and  proved  to  the  attorney,  who,  in  his 
turn,  proved  it  to  Mr.  Linton,  that  Earnshaw  had  mortgaged 
every  yard  of  land  he  owned  for  cash  to  supply  his  mania  for 
gaming :  and  he,  Heathcliff,  was  the  mortgagee. 

In  that  manner,  Hareton,  who  should  now  be  the  first  gentle- 
man in  the  neighborhood,  was  reduced  to  a  state  of  complete 
dependence  on  his  father's  inveterate  enemy  ;  and  lives  in  his 
own  house  as  a  servant,  deprived  of  the  advantage  of  wages,  and 
quite  unable  to  right  himself,  because  of  his  friendlessness,  and 
his  ignorance  that  he  has  been  wronged. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  twelve  years, — continued  Mrs.  Dean, — following  that 
dismal  period,  were  the  happiest  of  my  life :  my  greatest 
troubles,  in  their  passage,  rose  from  our  little  lady's  trifling  ill- 
nesses, which  she  had  to  experience  in  common  with  all  chil- 
dren, rich  and  poor. 

For  the  rest,  after  the  first  six  months,  she  grew  like  a  larch ; 
and  could  walk  and  talk  too,  in  her  own  way,  betore  the  heath 
blossomed  a  second  time  over  Mrs.  Linton's  dust.  She  was 
the  most  winning  thing  that  ever  brought  sunshine  into  a  deso- 
late house — a  real  beauty  in  face — with  the  Earashaws'  hand- 
some dark  eyes,  but  the  Lintons'  fair  skin,  and  small  features, 
and  yellow  curling  hair.  Her  spirit  was  high,  though  not  rough, 
and  qualified  by  a  heart  sensitive  and  lively  to  excess  in  its  af- 
fections. That  capacity  for  intense  attachments  reminded  me 
of  her  mother;  still  she  did  not  resemble  her;  for  she  could  be 
soft  and  mild  as  a  dove,  and  she  had  a  gentle  voice,  and  pensive 
expression  :  her  anger  was  never  furious ;  her  love  never  fierce ; 
it  was  deep  and  tender. 

However,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  she  had  faults  to  foil  her 
gifts.  A  propensity  to  be  saucy  was  one  ;  and  a  perverse  will 
that  indulged  children  invariably  acquire,  whether  they  be  good 
tempered  or  cross.  If  a  servant  chanced  to  vex  her,  it  was  al- 
ways, "  I  shall  tell  papa  !"  And  if  he  reproved  her,  even  by  a 
look,  you  would  have  thought  it  a  heart-breaking  business ;  I 
don't  believe  he  ever  did  speak  a  harsh  word  to  her. 

He  took  her  education  entirely  on  himself,  and  made  it  an 
amusement ;  fortunately,  curiosity  and  a  quick  intellect  urged 
her  into  an  apt  scholar;  she  learned  rapidly  and  eagerly,  and  did 
honor  to  his  teaching.  Till  she  reached  the  age  of  thirteen,  she 
had  not  once  been  beyond  the  range  of  the  park  by  herself. 
Mr.  Linton  would  take  her  with  him,  a  mile  or  so  outside,  on 
rare  occasions  ;  but  he  trusted  her  to  no  one  else.  Gimmerton 
was  an  unsubstantial  name  in  her  ears  ;  the  chapel  the  only 
building  she  had  approached  or  entered,  except  her  own  home; 
Wuthering  Heights  and  Mr.  Heathcliff  did  not  exist  for  her; 
she  was  a  perfect  recluse,  and,  apparently,  perfectly  contented. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  165 

Sometimes,  indeed,  while  surveying  the  country  from  her  nurs- 
ery window,  she  would  observe — 

"  Ellen,  how  long  will  it  be  before  I  can  walk  to  the  top  of 
those  hills  %  I  wonder  what  lies  on  the  other  side — is  it  the 
sea  V 

"No,  Miss  Cathy,"  I  would  answer,  "it  is  hills  again,  just 
like  these." 

"And  what  are  those  golden  rocks  like,  when  you  stand 
under  them  V1  she  once  asked. 

The  abrupt  descent  of  Penistone  Crags  particularly  attracted 
her  notice,  especially  when  the  setting  sun  shone  on  it,  and  the 
topmost  heights  ;  and  the  whole  extent  of  landscape  besides 
lay  in  shadow.  I  explained  that  they  were  bare  masses  of 
stone,  with  hardly  enough  earth  in  their  clefts  to  nourish  a  stunt- 
ed tree. 

"  And  why  are  they  bright  so  long  after  it  is  evening  here  V 
she  pursued. 

"  Because  they  are  a  great  deal  higher  up  than  we  are,"  re- 
plied I ;  "  you  could  not  climb  them — they  are  too  high  and 
steep.  In  winter  the  frost  is  always  there  before  it  comes  to  us  ; 
and,  deep  into  summer,  I  have  found  snow  under  that  black  hol- 
low on  the  northeast  side." 

"  Oh,  you  have  been  on  them  !"  she  cried,  gleefully.  "  Then 
I  can  go,  too,  when  I  am  a  woman.     Has  papa  been,  Ellen  V 

"  Papa  would  tell  you,  miss,"  I  answered,  hastily,  "  that  they 
are  not  worth  the  trouble  of  visiting.  The  moors,  where  you 
ramble  with  him,  are  much  nicer ;  and  Thrushcross  park  is  the 
finest  place  in  the  world." 

"  But  I  know  the  park,  and  I  don't  know  those,"  she  mur- 
mured to  herself.  "And  I  should  delight  to  look  round  me, 
from  the  brow  of  that  tallest  point.  My  little  pony,  Minny,  shall 
take  me  some  time." 

One  of  the  maids  mentioning  the  fairy  cave,  quite  turned 
her  head  with  a  desire  to  fulfill  this  project ;  she  teased  Mr. 
Linton  about  it,  and  he  promised  she  should  have  the  journey 
when  she  got  older ;  but  Miss  Catherine  measured  her  age  by 
months,  and — 

"  Now,  am  I  old  enough  to  go  to  Penistone  Crags  V  was  the 
constant  question  in  her  mouth. 

The  road  thither  wound  close  by  Wuthering  Heights.  Ed- 
gar had  not  the  heart  to  pass  it ;  so  she  received  as  constantly 
the  answer — 


166  WUTHEEING      HEIGHTS. 

"  Not  yet,  love,  not  yet." 

I  said  Mrs.  Heathcliff  lived  about  a  dozen  years  after  quitting 
her  husband.  Her  family  were  of  a  delicate  constitution  ;  she 
and  Edgar  both  lacked  the  ruddy  health  that  you  will  generally 
meet  in  these  parts.  What  her  last  illness  was,  I  am  not  cer- 
tain ;  I  conjecture  they  died  of  the  same  thing,  a  kind  of  fever, 
slow  at  its  commencement,  but  incurable,  and  rapidly  consuming 
life  toward  the  close. 

She  wrote  to  inform  her  brother  of  the  probable  conclusion 
of  a  four  months'  indisposition  under  which  she  had  suffered ; 
and  entreated  him  to  come  to  her,  if  possible,  for  she  had  much 
to  settle,  and  she  wished  to  bid  him  adieu,  and  deliver  Linton 
safely  into  her  hands.  Her  hope  was,  that  Linton  might  be  left 
with  him,  as  he  had  been  with  her  ;  his  father,  she  would  fain 
convince  herself,  had  no  desire  to  assume  the  burden  of  his 
maintenance  or  education. 

My  master  hesitated  not  a  moment  in  complying  with  her  re- 
quest ;  reluctant  as  he  was  to  leave  home  at  ordinary  calls,  he 
flew  to  answer  this  ;  commending  Catherine  to  my  peculiar  vig- 
ilance in  his  absence,  with  reiterated  orders  that  she  must  not 
wander  out  of  the  park,  even  under  my  escort ;  he  did  not  cal- 
culate on  her  going  unaccompanied. 

He  was  away  three  weeks.  The  first  day  or  two  my  charge 
sat  in  a  corner  of  the  library,  too  sad  for  either  reading  or  play- 
ing ;  in  that  quiet  state  she  caused  me  little  trouble ;  but  it  was 
succeeded  by  an  interval  of  impatient,  fretful  weariness  :  and, 
being  too  busy  and  too  old  then  to  run  up  and  down  amusing 
her,  I  hit  on  a  method  by  which  she  might  entertain  herself. 

I  used  to  send  her  on  her  travels  round  the  grounds — now  on 
foot,  and  now  on  a  pony ;  indulging  her  with  a  patient  audience 
of  all  her  real  and  imaginary  adventures,  when  she  re- 
turned. 

The  summer  shone  in  full  prime  ;  and  she  took  such  a  taste 
for  this  solitary  rambling  that  she  often  contrived  to  remain  out 
from  breakfast  till  tea  ;  and  then  the  evenings  were  spent  in 
recounting  her  fanciful  tales.  I  did  not  fear  her  breaking 
bounds,  because  the  gates  were  generally  locked,  and  I  thought 
she  would  scarcely  venture  forth  alone,  if  they  had  stood  wide 
open.  Unluckily,  my  confidence  proved  misplaced.  Catherine 
came  to  me,  one  morning  at  eight  o'clock,  and  said  she  was 
that  day  an  Arabian  merchant,  going  to  cross  the  desert  with 
his  caravan  j  and  I  must  give  her  plenty  of  provisions  for  her- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  167 

self  and  beasts,  a  horse,  and  three  camels,  personated  by  a 
large  hound  and  a  couple  of  pointers. 

I  got  together  good  store  of  dainties,  and  slung  them  in  a 
basket  on  one  side  of  the  saddle  ;  and  she  sprang  up  as  gay  aa 
a  fairy,  sheltered  by  her  wide-brimmed  hat  and  gauze  veil  from 
the  July  sun,  and  trotted  off  with  a  merry  laugh,  mocking  my 
cautious  counsel  to  avoid  galloping,  and  come  back  early. 
The  naughty  thing  never  made  her  appearance  at  tea.  One 
traveler,  the  hound,  being  an  old  dog,  and  fond  of  its  ease, 
returned  ;  but  neither  Cathy,  nor  the  pony,  nor  the  two  pointers 
were  visible  in  any  direction ;  and  I  dispatched  emissaries 
down  this  path,  and  that  path,  and,  at  last,  went  wandering  in 
search  of  her  myself. 

There  was  a  laborer  working  at  a  fence  round  a  plantation, 
on  the  borders  of  the  grounds.  I  inquired  of  him  if  he  had 
seen  our  young  lady  ] 

"  I  saw  her  at  morn,"  he  replied,  "  she  would  have  me  to  cut 
her  a  hazel  switch  ;  and  then  she  leaped  her  galloway  over 
the  hedge  yonder,  where  it  is  lowest,  and  galloped  out  ot 
sight." 

You  may  guess  how  I  felt  at  hearing  this  news.  It  struck 
me  directly  she  must  have  started  for  Penistone  Crags. 
.  "  What  will  become  of  her  V  I  ejaculated,  pushing  through 
a  gap  which  the  man  was  repairing,  and  making  straight  to  the 
high  road.  I  walked  as  if  for  a  wager,  mile  after  mile,  till  a 
turn  brought  me  in  view  of  the  Heights,  but  no  Catherine  could 
I  detect,  far  or  near. 

The  Crags  lie  about  a  mile  and  a  half  beyond  Mr.  Heath- 
cliff's  place,  and  that  is  four  from  the  Grange,  so  I  began  to 
fear  night  would  fall  ere  I  could  reach  them. 

"  And  what  if  she  should  have  slipped  in  clambering  among 
them,"  I  reflected,  "  and  been  killed,  or  broken  some  of  her 
bones  V* 

My  suspense  was  truly  painful ;  and,  at  first,  it  gave  me 
delightful  relief  to  observe,  in  hurrying  by  the  farm-house, 
Charlie,  the  fiercest  of  the  pointers,  lying  under  a  window, 
with  swelled  head  and  bleeding  ear.  I  opened  the  wicket, 
and  ran  to  the  door,  knocking  vehemently  for  admittance.  A 
woman  whom  I  knew,  and  who  formerly  lived  at  Gimmerton, 
answered — she  had  been  servant  there  since  the  death  of  Mr. 
Earnshaw. 

"  Ah,"  said  she,  "  you  are  come   a  seeking  your  little  mis: 


168  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

tress !  don't  be  frightened.     She's  here  safe — but  I'm  glad  it 
isn't  the  master." 

"  He  is  not  at  home  then,  is  he  f°  I  panted,  quite  breathless 
with  quick  walking  and  alarm. 

"  No,  no,"  she  replied,  "  both  he  and  Joseph  are  off,  and 
I  think  they  won't  return  this  hour  or  more.  Step  in  and  rest 
you  a  bit." 

I  entered,  and  beheld  my  stray  lamb,  seated  on  the  hearth, 
rocking  herself  in  a  little  chair  that  had  been  her  mother's, 
when  a  child.  Her  hat  was  hung  against  the  wall,  and  she 
seemed  perfectly  at  home,  laughing  and  chattering,  in  the  best 
spirits  imaginable,  to  Hareton,  now  a  great,  strong  lad  of 
eighteen,  who  stared  at  her  with  considerable  curiosity  and 
astonishment ;  comprehending  precious  little  of  the  fluent  suc- 
cession of  remarks  and  questions  which  her  tongue  never  ceased 
pouring  forth. 

"  Very  well,  Miss,"  I  exclaimed,  concealing  my  joy  under  an 
angry  countenance.  "  This  is  your  last  ride  till  papa  comes 
back.  "  I'll  not  trust  you  over  the  threshold  again,  you  naughty, 
naughty  girl." 

"  Aha,  Ellen  !"  she  cried,  gayly,  jumping  up  and  running  to 
my  side.  "  I  shall  have  a  pretty  story  to  tell  to-night — and  so 
you've  found  me  out.  Have  you  ever  been  here  in  your  life 
before  1" 

"  Put  that  hat  on,  and  home  at  once,"  said  I.  "  I'm  dread- 
fully grieved  at  you,  Miss  Cathy — you've  done  extremely  wrong ! 
It's  no  use  pouting  and  crying;  that  won't  repay  the  trouble 
I've  had,  scouring  the  country  after  you.  To  think  how  Mr. 
Linton  charged  me  to  keep  you  in,  and  you  stealing  off  so ;  it 
shows  you  are  a  cunning  little  fox,  and  nobody  will  put  faith  in 
you  any  more." 

"  What  have  I  done  1"  sobbed  she,  instantly  checked.  "  Papa 
charged  me  nothing — he'll  not  scold  me,  Ellen — he's  never  cross, 
like  you  !" 

"  Come,  come!"  I  repeated.  "I'll  tie  the  ribbon.  Now  let 
us  have  no  petulance.  Oh,  for  shame.  You  thirteen  years 
old,  and  such  a  baby  !" 

This  exclamation  was  caused  by  her  pushing  the  hat  from 
her  head,  and  retreating  to  the  chimney,  out  of  my  reach. 

"  Nay,"  said  the  servant,  "  don't  be  hard  on  the  bonny  lass, 
Mrs.  Dean.  "We  made  her  stop;  she'd  fain  have  ridden  for- 
ward, afeard  you  should  be  uneasy.     But  Hareton  offered  to 


WUTIIERING      HEIGHTS.  169 

go  with  her,  and  I  thought  he  should.     It's  a  wild  road  over  the 
hills." 

Hareton,  during  the  discussion,  stood  with  his  hands  in  his 
pockets,  too  awkward  to  speak,  though  he  looked  as  if  he  did 
not  relish  my  intrusion. 

"How  long  am  I  to  wait1?"  I  continued,  disregarding  the 
woman's  interference.  "  It  will  be  dark  in  ten  minutes.  Where 
is  the  pony,  Miss  Cathy  %  And  where  is  Phoenix1?  I  shall 
leave  you,  unless  you  be  quick — so  please  yourself;" 

"  The  pony  is  in  the  yard,"  she  replied,  "  and  Phoenix  is  shut 
in  there.  He's  bitten,  and  so  is  Charlie.  I  was  going  to  tell 
you  all  about  it,  but  you  are  in  a  bad  temper,  and  don't  deserve 
to  hear." 

I  picked  up  her  hat,  and  approached  to  reinstate  it ;  but  per- 
ceiving that  the  people  of  the  house  took  her  part,  she  com- 
menced capering  round  the  room  ;  and,  on  my  giving  chase,  ran 
like  a  mouse,  over  and  under  and  behind  the  furniture,  render- 
ing it  ridiculous  for  me  to  pursue.  Hareton  and  the  woman 
laughed,  and  she  joined  them,  and  waxed  more  impertinent  still, 
till  I  cried,  in  great  irritation. 

"Well,  Miss  Cathy,  if  you  were  aware  whose  house  this  is, 
you'd  be  glad  enough  to  get  out." 

"  It's  your  father's  isn't  it }"  said  she,  turning  to  Hareton. 

"  Nay,"  he  replied,  looking  down,  and  blushing  bashfully. 

He  could  not  stand  a  steady  gaze  from  her  eyes,  though  they 
were  just  his  own. 

"  Whose  then — your  master's  1"  she  asked. 

He  colored  deeper,  with  a  different  feeling,  muttered  an  oath, 
and  turned  away. 

"  Who  is  his  master  t"  continued  the  tiresome  girl,  appealing 
to  me.  "  He  talked  about '  our  house,'  and  '  our  folk' — I  thought 
he  had  been  the  owner's  son.  And  he  never  said  Miss  ;  he 
should  have  done,  shouldn't  he,  if  he's  a  servant  V 

Hareton  grew  black  as  a  thunder-cloud,  at  this  childish  speech. 
I  silently  shook  my  questioner,  and  at  last  succeeded  in  equip- 
ping her  for  departure. 

"  Now  get  my  horse,"  she  said,  addressing  her  unknown  kins- 
man as  she  would  one  of  the  stable-boys  at  the  Grange.  "  And 
you  may  come  with  me.  I  want  to  see  where  the  goblin  hun- 
ter rises  in  the  marsh,  and  to  hear  about  the  fairishes,  as  you 
call  them — but  make  haste!  What's  the  matter]  Get  my 
horse,  I  say." 

H 


170  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  I'll  see  thee  damned,  before  I  be  thy  servant !"  growled  the 

lad' 

"You'll  see  me  whatV  asked  Catherine  in  surprise. 

"  Damned,  thou  saucy  witch  !"  he  replied. 

"  There,  Miss  Cathy  !  you  see  you  have  got  into  pretty  com- 
pany," I  interposed.  "  Nice  words  to  be  used  to  a  young  lady  ! 
Pray  don't  begin  to  dispute  with  him.  Come,  let  us  seek  for 
Minny  ourselves,  and  be  gone." 

"  But,  Ellen,"  cried  she,  staring,  fixed  in  astonishment.  "  How 
dare  he  speak  so  to  me  1  Mustn't  he  be  made  to  do  as  I  ask 
him  ]  You  wicked  creature,  I  shall  tell  papa  what  you  said. 
Now  then !" 

Hareton  did  not  appear  to  feel  this  threat ;  so  the  tears  sprung 
into  her  eyes  with  indignation.  "  You  bring  the  pony,"  she  ex- 
claimed, turning  to  the  woman,  "  and  let  my  dog  free  this  mo- 
ment!" 

"  Softly,  Miss,"  answered  the  addressed.  "  You'll  lose  noth- 
ing by  being  civil.  Though  Mr.  Hareton,  there,  be  not  the  mas- 
ter's son,  he's  your  cousin ;  and  I  was  never  hired  to  serve  you." 

"  He  my  cousin !"  cried  Cathy,  with  a  scornful  laugh. 

"Yes,  indeed,"  responded  her  reprover. 

"  Oh,  Ellen !  don't  let  them  say  such  things,"  she  pursued  in 
great  trouble.  Papa  is  gone  to  fetch  my  cousin  from  London — 
my  cousin  is  a  gentleman's  son.  That  my — "  she  stopped  and 
wept  outright,  upset  at  the  bare  notion  of  relationship  with  such 
a  clown. 

"  Hush,  hush !"  I  whispered,  "  people  can  have  many  cousins, 
and  of  all  sorts,  Miss  Cathy,  without  being  any  the  worse  for  it ; 
only  they  needn't  keep  their  company,  if  they  be  disagreeable 
and  bad." 

"  He's  not,  he's  not  my  cousin,  Ellen  !"  she  went  on,  gather- 
ing fresh  grief  from  reflection,  and  flinging  herself  into  my  arms 
for  refuge  from  the  idea.  I  was  much  vexed  at  her  and  the 
servant  for  their  mutual  revelations;  having  no  doubt  of  Lin- 
ton's approaching  arrival,  communicated  by  the  former,  being 
reported  to  Mr.  Heath  cliff;  and  feeling  as  confident  that  Cath- 
erine's first  thought,  on  her  father's  return,  would  be  to  seek 
an  explanation  of  the  latter's  assertion  concerning  her  rude- 
bred  kindred. 

Hareton,  recovering  from  his  disgust  at  being  taken  for  a 
servant,  seemed  moved  by  her  distress  ;  and,  having  fetched  the 
pony  round   to   the   door,  he   took,  to  propitiate  her.  a  fine 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  171 

crooked-legged  terrier  whelp  from  the  kennel ;  and,  putting  it 
into  her  hand,  bid  her  wisht,  for  he  meant  naught.  Pausing  in 
her  lamentations,  she  surveyed  him  with  a  glance  of  awe  and 
horror,  then  burst  forth  anew. 

I  could  scarcely  refrain  from  smiling  at  this  antipathy  to  the 
poor  fellow,  who  was  a  well  made,  athletic  youth,  good-looking 
in  features,  and  stout  and  healthy,  but  attired  in  garments  be- 
fitting his  daily  occupations  of  working  on  a  farm,  and  lounging 
among  the  moors  after  rabbits  and  game.  Still,  I  thought  I 
could  detect  in  his  physiognomy  a  mind  owning  better  qualities 
than  his  father  ever  possessed.  Good  things  lost  amid  a  wilder- 
ness of  weeds,  to  be  sure,  whose  rankness  far  overtopped  their 
neglected  growth  ;  yet,  notwithstanding,  evidence  of  a  wealthy 
soil  that  might  yield  luxuriant  crops,  under  other  and  favorable 
circumstances.  Mr.  HeathclifT,  I  believe,  had  not  treated  him 
physically  ill,  thanks  to  his  fearless  nature  which  offered  no 
temptation  to  that  course  of  oppression ;  it  had  none  of  the 
timid  susceptibility  that  would  have  given  zest  to  ill-treatment 
in  Heathcliff's  judgment.  He  appeared  to  have  bent  his  male- 
volence on  making  him  a  brute ;  he  was  never  taught  to  read  or 
write  ;  never  rebuked  for  any  bad  habit  which  did  not  annoy  his 
keeper;  never  led  a  single  step  toward  virtue,  or  guarded  by  a 
single  precept  against  vice.  And  from  what  I  heard,  Joseph 
contributed  much  to  his  deterioration  by  a  narrow-minded  par- 
tiality, which  prompted  him  to  flatter  and  pet  him  as  a  boy, 
because  he  was  the  head  of  the  old  family.  And  as  he  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  accusing  Catherine  Earnshaw  and  Heath- 
cliff,  when  children,  of  putting  the  master  past  his  patience, 
and  compelling  him  to  seek  solace  in  drink,  by  what  he  termed, 
their  "  offalld  ways,"  so  at  present,  he  laid  the  whole  burden 
of  Hareton's  faults  on  the  shoulders  of  the  usurper  of  his  prop- 
erty. 

If  the  lad  swore,  he  would'nt  correct  him,  nor  however  cul- 
pably he  behaved.  It  gave  Joseph  satisfaction,  apparently,  to 
watch  him  go  the  worst  lengths.  He  allowed  that  he  was 
ruined,  that  his  soul  was  abandoned  to  perdition;  but  then  he 
reflected  that  Heathcliff  must  answer  for  it.  Hareton's  blood 
would  be  required  at  his  hands  ;  and  there  lay  immense  con- 
solation in  that  thought,  Joseph  had  instilled  into  him  a  pride 
of  name,  and  of  his  lineage  ;  he  would,  had  he  dared,  have 
fostered  hate  between  him  and  the  present  owner  of  the 
Heights,  but  his  dread  of  that  owner  amounted  to  superstition ; 


172  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

and  he  confined  his  feelings,  *.0arding  him  to  muttered  inuen- 
does  and  private  comminations. 

I  don't  pretend  to  be  intimately  acquainted  with  the  mode  of 
living  customary  in  those  days  at  Wuthering  Heights.  I  only 
speak  from  hearsay ;  for  I  saw  little.  The  villagers  affirmed 
Mr.  Heathcliff  was  near,  and  a  cruel,  hard  landlord  to  his 
tenants;  but  the  house  inside  had  regained  its  ancient  aspect 
of  comfort  under  female  management ;  and  the  scenes  of  riot 
common  in  Hindley's  time,  were  not  now  enacted  within  its 
walls.  The  master  was  too  gloomy  to  seek  companionship  with 
any  people,  good  or  bad ;  and  he  is  yet. 

This,  however,  is  not  making  progress  with  my  story. — Miss 
Cathy  rejected  the  peace-offering  of  the  terrier,  and  demanded 
her  own  dogs,  Charlie  and  Phoenix.  They  came,  limping  and 
hanging  their  heads  ;  and  we  set  out  out  for  home,  sadly  out  of 
sorts,  every  one  of  us. 

I  could  not  wring  from  my  little  lady  how  she  had  spent  the 
day;  except  that,  as  I  supposed,  the  goal  of  her  pilgrimage 
was  Penistone  Crags  ;  and  she  arrived  without  adventure  to 
the  gate  of  the  farmhouse,  when  Hareton  happened  to  issue 
forth,  attended  by  some  canine  followers  who  attacked  her 
train.  They  had  a  smart  battle  before  their  owners  could 
separate  them  ;  that  formed  an  introduction.  Catherine  told 
Hareton  who  she  was,  and  where  she  was  going ;  and  asked 
him  to  show  her  the  way ;  finally  beguiling  him  to  accompany 
her. 

He  opened  the  mysteries  of  the  fairy  cave,  and  twenty  other 
queer  places ;  but  being  in  disgrace,  I  was  not  favored  with  a 
description  of  the  interesting  objects  she  saw.  I  could  gather, 
however,  that  her  guide  had  been  a  favorite,  till  she  hurt  his 
feelings  by  addressing  him  as  a  servant,  and  Heathcliff 's  house- 
keeper hurt  hers,  by  calling  him  her  cousin.  Then  the  lan- 
guage he  had  held  to  her  rankled  in  her  heart ;  she  who  was 
always  "  love,"  and  "  darling,"  and  "  queen,"  and  "  angel," 
with  every  body  at  the  Grange,  to  be  insulted  so  shockingly  by 
a  stranger !  She  did  not  comprehend  it,  and  hard  work  I  had 
to  obtain  a  promise  that  she  would  not  lay  the  grievance  before 
her  father. 

I  explained  how  he  objected  to  the  whole  household  at  the 
Heights,  and  how  sorry  he  would  be  to  find  she  had  been 
there ;  but  I  insisted  most  on  the  fact,  that  if  she  revealed  my 
negligence  of  his  orders,  he  would,  perhaps,  be  so  angry  that  I 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  173 

should  have  to  leave  ;  and  Cathy  couldn't  bear  that  prospect; 
she  pledged  her  word,  and  kept  it,  for  my  sake.  After  all,  she 
was  a  sweet  little  girl. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A  letter  edged  with  black  announced  the  day  of  my  mas- 
ter's return.  Isabella  was  dead;  and  he  wrote  to  bid  me  get 
mourning  for  his  daughter,  and  arrange  a  room,  and  other  ac- 
commodations, for  his  youthful  nephew.  Catherine  ran  wild 
with  joy  at  the  idea  of  welcoming  her  father  back  ;  and  indulged 
most  sanguine  anticipations  of  the  innumerable  excellencies  of 
her  "  real"  cousin. 

The  evening  of  their  expected  arrival  came.  Since  early 
morning  she  had  been  busy,  ordering  her  own  small  affairs  ;  and 
now,  attired  in  her  new  black  frock — poor  thing !  her  aunt's 
death  impressed  her  with  no  definite  sorrow — she  obliged  me, 
by  constant  worrying,  to  walk  with  her  down  through  the 
grounds  to  meet  them. 

"  Linton  is  just  six  months  younger  than  I  am,"  she  chattered, 
as  we  strolled  leisurely  over  the  swells  and  hollows  of  mossy 
turf,  under  shadow  of  the  trees.  "  How  delightful  it  will  be  to 
have  him  for  a  playfellow  !  Aunt  Isabella  sent  papa  a  beautiful 
lock  of  his  hair ;  it  was  lighter  than  mine — more  flaxen,  and 
quite  as  fine.  I  have  it  carefully  preserved  in  a  little  glass  box  ; 
and  I've  often  thought  what  pleasure  it  would  be  to  see  its 
owner.  Oh !  I  am  happy — and  papa,  dear,  dear  papa  !  come 
Ellen,  let  us  run  !  come  run  !" 

She  ran,  and  returned  and  ran  again  many  times,  before  my 
sober  footsteps  reached  the  gate,  and  then  she  seated  herself  on 
the  grassy  bank  beside  the  path,  and  tried  to  wait  patiently  ; 
but  that  was  impossible ;  she  couldn't  be  still  a  minute. 

"  How  long  they  are  !"  she  exclaimed.  "  Ah,  I  see  some 
dust  on  the  road — they  are  coming !  No  !  When  will  they  be 
here  1  May  we  not  go  a  little  way — half  a  mile,  Ellen,  only 
just  half  a  mile  %  Do  say  yes — to  that  clump  of  birches  at  the 
turn !" 

I  refused  stanchly :  and,  at  length,  her  suspense  was  ended  : 


174  W  U  T  H  E  It  I  N  G      HEIGHTS. 

the  traveling  carriage  rolled  in  sight.  Miss  Cathy  shrieked, 
and  stretched  out  her  arms,  as  soon  as  she  caught  her  father's 
face  looking  from  the  window.  He  descended,  nearly  as  eager 
as  herself;  and  a  considerable  interval  elapsed,  ere  they  had  a 
thought  to  spare  for  any  but  themselves. 

While  they  exchanged  caresses,  I  took  a  peep  in  to  see  after 
Linton.  He  was  asleep  in  a  comer,  wrapped  in  a  warm,  fur- 
lined  cloak,  as  if  it  had  been  winter.  A  pale,  delicate,  effemi- 
nate boy,  who  might  have  been  taken  for  my  master's  younger 
brother,  so  strong  was  the  resemblance ;  but  there  was  a  sickly 
peevishness  in  his  aspect,  that  Edgar  Linton  never  had. 

The  latter  saw  me  looking ;  and  having  shaken  hands,  ad- 
vised me  to  close  the  door  and  leave  him  undisturbed  ;  for  the 
journey  had  fatigued  him.  Cathy  would  fain  have  taken  one 
glance;  but  her  father  told  her  to  come  on,  and  they  walked 
together  up  the  park,  while  I  hastened  before  to  prepare  the 
servants. 

"  Now,  darling,"  said  Mr.  Linton,  addressing  his  daughter,  as 
they  halted  at  the  bottom  of  the  front  steps.  "  Your  cousin  is 
not  so  strong,  or  so  merry  as  you  are,  and  he  has  lost  his 
mother,  remember,  a  very  short  time  since;  therefore,  don't  ex- 
pect him  to  play,  and  run  about  with  you  directly.  And  don't 
harass  him  much  by  talking — let  him  be  quiet  this  evening,  at 
least,  will  you  f" 

"Yes,  yes,  papa,"  answered  Catherine;  "but  I  do  want  to 
see  him ;  and  he  hasn't  once  looked  out." 

The  carriage  stopped;  and  the  sleeper,  being  roused,  was 
lifted  to  the  ground  by  his  uncle. 

"  This  is  your  cousin  Cathy,  Linton,"  he  said,  putting  their 
little  hands  together.  "  She's  fond  of  you  already ;  and  mind 
you  don't  grieve  her  by  crying  to-night.  Try  to  be  cheerful 
now ;  the  traveling  is  at  an  end,  and  you  have  nothing  to  do 
but  rest  and  amuse  yourself  as  you  please." 

"  Let  me  go  to  bed  then,"  answered  the  boy,  shrinking  from 
Catherine's  salute ;  and  he  put  his  fingers  to  his  eyes  to  remove 
incipient  tears. 

"  Come,  come,  there's  a  good  child,"  I  whispered,  leading 
him  in.  You'll  make  her  weep  too — see  how  sorry  she  is  for 
you  !" 

I  do  not  know  whether  it  were  sorrow  for  him,  but  his  cousin 
put  on  as  sad  a  countenance  as  himself,  and  returned  to  her 
father.     All  three  entered,  and  mounted  to  the  library,  where 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 


tea  was  laid  ready.  I  proceeded  to  remove  Linton's  cap  and 
mantle,  and  placed  him  on  a  chair  by  the  table;  but  he  was  no 
sooner  seated  than  he  began  to  cry  afresh.  My  master  inquired 
what  was  the  matter. 

"  I  can't  sit  on  a  chair,"  sobbed  the  boy. 

"  Go  to  the  sofa  then  ;  and  Ellen  shall  bring  you  some  tea," 
answered  his  uncle,  patiently. 

He  had  been  greatly  tried  during  the  journey,  I  felt  convinced, 
by  his  fretful,  ailing  charge. 

Linton  slowly  trailed  himself  off,  and  lay  down.  Cathy  car- 
ried a  footstool  and  her  cup  to  his  side.  At  first  he  sat  silent ; 
but  that  could  not  last ;  she  had  resolved  to  make  a  pet  of  her 
little  cousin,  as  she  would  have  him  to  be ;  and  she  commenced 
stroking  his  curls,  and  kissing  his  cheek,  and  offering  him  tea  in 
her  saucer,  like  a  baby.  This  pleased  him,  for  he  was  not 
much  better  ;  he  dried  his  eyes,  and  lightened  into  a  faint  smile. 

"  Oh,  he'll  do  very  well,"  said  the  master  to  me,  after  watch- 
ing them  a  minute.  "  Very  well,  if  we  can  keep  him,  Ellen. 
The  company  of  a  child  of  his  own  age  will  instill  new  spirit 
into  him  soon  ;  and  by  wishing  for  strength  he'll  gain  it." 

Aye,  if  we  can  keep  him  !  I  mused  to  myself;  and  sore  mis- 
givings came  over  me  that  there  was  slight  hope  of  that.  And 
then,  I  thought,  how  will  that  weakling  ever  live  at  Wuthering 
Heights,  between  his  father  and  Hareton  1  what  playmates  and 
instructors  they'll  be. 

Our  doubts  were  presently  decided ;  even  earlier  than  I  ex- 
pected. I  had  just  taken  the  children  up-stairs,  after  tea  was 
finished ;  and  seen  Linton  asleep — he  would  not  suffer  me  to 
leave  him,  till  that  was  the  case.  I  had  come  down,  and  was 
standing  by  the  table  in  the  hall,  lighting  a  bedroom  candle  for 
Mr.  Edgar,  when  a  maid  stepped  out  of  the  kitchen,  and  in- 
formed me  that  Mr.  Heathcliff's  servant,  Joseph  was  at  the 
door,  and  wished  to  speak  with  the  master. 

"  I  shall  ask  him  what  he  wants  first,"  I  said,  in  considerable 
trepidation.  "  A  very  unlikely  hour  to  be  troubling  people,  and 
the  instant  they  have  returned  from  a  long  journey.  I  don't 
think  the  master  can  see  him." 

Joseph  had  advanced  through  the  kitchen,  as  I  uttered  these 
words,  and  now  presented  himself  in  the  hall.  He  was  donned 
in  his  Sunday  garments,  with  his  most  sanctimonious  and  sour- 
est face  ;  and  holding  his  hat  in  one  hand,  and  his  stick  in  the 
other,  he  proceeded  to  clean  his  shoes  on  the  mat. 


1 76  WUTHEE  I  N  G       HEIGHT  S. 

"  Good  evening,  Joseph,"  I  said,  coldly.  "  What  business 
brings  you  here  to-night  V 

"  It's  Maister  Linton  aw  mun  spake  tull,"  he  answered  wav- 
ing me  disdainfully  aside. 

"  Mr.  Linton  is  going  to  bed ;  unless  you  have  something  par- 
ticular to  say,  I'm  sure  he  wont  hear  it  now,"  I  continued. 
"  You  had  better  sit  down  there  and  intrust  your  message  to  me." 

"  Which  is  his  rahm  V  pursued  the  fellow,  surveying  the 
range  of  closed  doors. 

I  perceived  he  was  bent  on  refusing  my  mediation ;  so,  very 
reluctantly,  I  went  up  to  the  library,  and  announced  the  unsea- 
sonable visitor ;  advising  that  he  should  be  dismissed  till  next 
day.  Mr.  Linton  had  no  time  to  empower  me  to  do  so,  for  he 
mounted  close  at  my  heels,  and  pushing  into  the  apartment, 
planted  himself  at  the  far  side  of  the  table,  with  his  two  fists 
clapped  on  the  head  of  his  stick,  and  began,  in  an  elevated  tone, 
as  if  he  anticipated  opposition, 

"  Heathcliff  has  sent  me  for  his  lad,  un  aw  mun'n't  goa  back 
'baht  him." 

Edgar  Linton  was  silent  a  minute  ;  an  expression  of  exceed- 
ing sorrow  overcast  his  features  ;  he  would  have  pitied  the  child 
on  his  own  account;  but,  recalling  Isabella's  hopes  and  fears, 
and  anxious  wishes  for  her  son,  and  her  commendations  of  him 
to  his  care,  he  grieved  bitterly  at  the  prospect  of  yielding  him 
up,  and  searched  in  his  heart  how  it  might  be  avoided.  No 
plan  offered  itself;  the  very  exhibition  of  any  desire  to  keep 
aim  would  have  rendered  the  claimant  more  peremptory  ;  there 
was  nothing  left  but  to  resign  him.  However,  he  was  not 
going  to  rouse  him  from  his  sleep. 

"Tell  Mr.  Heathcliff,"  he  answered,  calmly,  "that  his  son 
shall  come  to  Wuthering  Heights  to-morrow.  He  is  in  bed, 
and  too  tired  to  go  the  distance  now.  You  may  also  tell  him 
that  the  mother  of  Linton  desired  him  to  remain  under  my 
guardianship ;  and,  at  present,  his  health  is  very  precarious." 

"  Noa !"  said  Joseph,  giving  a  thud  with  his  prop  on  the 
floor,  and  assuming  an  authoritative  air.  "  Noa !  that  manes 
nowt — Heathcliff  maks  noa  'cahnt  uh  t'  mother,  nur  yah  norther 
— bud  he'll  hev  his  lad ;  und  aw  mun  tak  him — soa  nah  yah 
knaw  !" 

"  You  shall  not  to-night  !"  answered  Linton,  decisively. 
"  Walk  down  stairs  at  once,  and  repeat  to  your  master  what  I 
have  said.     Ellen,  show  him  down.     Go — " 


WUTHERING       HEIGHTS.  1 77 

And,  aiding  the  indignant  elder  with  a  lift  by  the  arm,  he  rid 
the  room  of  him  and  closed  the  door. 

.   "  Varrah   weel!"    shouted    Joseph,    as    he    slowly   drew  off 
"  Tuh  morn,  he's  come  hisseln,  un'  thrust  him  aht,  if  yah  darr!" 


CHAPTER  XX. 

To  obviate  the  danger  of  this  threat  being  fulfilled,  Mr 
Linton  commissioned  me  to  take  the  boy  home  early,  on 
Catherine's  pony,  and,  said  he — 

"  As  we  shall  now  have  no  influence  over  his  destiny,  good 
or  bad,  you  must  say  nothing  of  where  he  is  gone  to  my 
daughter ;  she  can  not  associate  with  him  hereafter ;  and  it  is 
better  for  her  to  remain  in  ignorance  of  his  proximity,  lest  she 
should  be  restless,  and  anxious  to  visit  the  Heights — merely  tell 
her,  his  father  sent  for  him  suddenly,  and  he  has  been  obliged 
to  leave  us." 

Linton  was  very  reluctant  to  be  roused  from  his  bed  at  five 
o'clock,  and  astonished  to  be  informed  that  he  must  prepare  for 
further  traveling :  but  I  softened  off  the  matter  by  stating  that 
he  was  going  to  spend  some  time  with  his  father,  Mr.  Heath- 
cliff,  who  wished  to  see  him  so  much,  he  did  not  like  to  defer 
the  pleasure  till  he  should  recover  from  his  late  journey. 

"  My  father  V'  he  cried,  in  strange  perplexity.  "  Mamma 
never  told  me  I  had  a  father.  Where  does  he  live  1  I'd 
rather  stay  with  uncle." 

"  He  lives  a  little  distance  from  the  Grange,"  I  replied,  "just 
beyond  those  hills — not  so  far  but  you  may  walk  over  here, 
when  you  get  hearty.  And  you  should  be  glad  to  go  home, 
and  to  see  him.  You  must  try  to  love  him,  as  you  did  your 
mother,  and  then  he  will  love  you." 

"  But  why  have  I  not  heard  of  him  before  V  asked  Linton  ; 
*'  why  didn't  mamma  and  he  live  together  as  other  people  do  V 

"  He  had  business  to  keep  him  in  the  north,"  I  answered ; 
"  and  your  mother's  health  required  her  to  reside  in  the 
south." 

"  And  why  didn't  mamma  speak  to  me  about  him  1"  perse- 
vered the  child.     "  She  often  talked  of  uncle,  and  T  learned  to 


178  WUTHERING       HEIGHTS. 

love  him  long  ago.  How  am  I  to  love  papa]  I  don't  know 
him." 

"  Oh,  all  children  love  their  parents,"  I  said.  "  Your  mother, 
perhaps,  thought  you  would  want  to  be  with  him,  if  she  men- 
tioned him  often  to  you.  Let  us  make  haste.  An  early  ride 
on  such  a  beautiful  morning  is  much  preferable  to  an  hour's 
more  sleep." 

"  Is  she  to  go  with  us  !"  he  demanded.  "  The  little  girl  I 
saw  yesterday  V9 

"  Not  now,"  replied  I. 

"  Is  uncle  ]"  he  continued. 

"  No,  I  shall  be  your  companion  there,"  I  said. 

Linton  sank  back  on  his  pillow,  and  fell  into  a  brown  study. 

"  I  won't  go  without  uncle ;"  he  cried  at  length :  "  I  can't 
tell  where  you  mean  to  take  me." 

I  attempted  to  persuade  him  of  the  naughtiness  of  showing 
reluctance  to  meet  his  father :  still  he  obstinately  resisted  any 
progress  toward  dressing;  and  I  had  to  call  for  my  master's 
assistance  in  coaxing  him  out  of  bed.  The  poor  thing  was 
finally  got  off  with  several  delusive  assurances  that  his  absence 
should  be  short ;  that  Mr.  Edgar  and  Cathy  would  visit  him  ; 
and  other  promises,  equally  ill-founded,  which  I  invented  and 
reiterated,  at  intervals,  throughout  the  way. 

The  pure  heather-scented  air,  the  bright  sunshine,  and  the 
gentle  canter  of  Minny,  relieved  his  despondency  after  a  while. 
He  began  to  put  questions  concerning  his  new  home,  and  its  in- 
habitants, with  greater  interest  and  liveliness. 

"  Is  Wuthering  Heights  as  pleasant  a  place  as  Thrushcross 
Grange  ?"  he  inquired,  turning  to  take  a  last  glance  into  the 
valley,  whence  a  light  mist  mounted,  and  formed  fleecy  clouds, 
on  the  skirts  of  the  blue. 

"  It  is  not  so  buried  in  trees,"  I  replied,  "  and  it  is  not  quite  so 
large,  but  you  can  see  the  country  beautifully,  all  round  ;  and  the 
air  is  healthier  for  you — fresher  and  dryer.  You  will,  perhaps, 
think  the  building  old  and  dark,  at  first — though  it  is  a  respect- 
able house,  the  next  best  in  the  neighborhood.  And  you  will 
have  such  nice  rambles  on  the  moors !  Hareton  Earnshaw — 
that  is  Miss  Cathy's  other  cousin,  and  so  yours  in  a  manner — 
will  show  you  all  the  sweetest  spots ;  and  you  can  bring  a.  book 
in  fine  weather,  and  make  a  green  hollow  your  study;  and, 
now  and  then,  your  uncle  may  join  you  in  a  walk ;  he  does 
frequently  walk  out  on  the  hills." 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  179 

"  And  what  is  my  father  like  V*  he  asked.  "  Is  he  as  young 
and  handsome  as  uncle  1" 

"  He's  as  young,"  said  I,  "  but  he  has  black  hair  and  eyes, 
and  looks  sterner;  and  he  is  taller  and  bigger  altogether. 
He'll  not  seem  to  you  so  gentle  and  kind  at  first,  perhaps, 
because  it  is  not  his  way ;  still,  mind  you  be  frank  and  cordial 
with  him,  and,  naturally,  he'll  be  fonder  of  you  than  any  uncle, 
for  you  are  his  own." 

"  Black  hair  and  eyes  !"  mused  Linton.  "  I  can't  fancy  him. 
Then  I  am  not  like  him,  am  I  V 

"  Not  much,"  I  answered.  "  Not  a  morsel,"  I  thought ; 
surveying  with  regret  the  white  complexion  and  slim  frame 
of  my  companion,  and  his  large  languid  eyes — his  mother's 
eyes,  save  that,  unless  a  morbid  touchiness  kindled  them  a 
moment,  they  had  not  a  vestige  of  her  sparkling  spirit. 

"  How  strange  that  he  should  never  come  to  see  mamma 
and  me,"  he  murmured.  "  Has  he  ever  seen  met  If  he  have, 
I  must  have  been  a  baby — I  remember  not  a  single  thing  about 
him!" 

"  Why,  Master  Linton,"  said  I,  "  three  hundred  miles  is  a 
great  distance ;  and  ten  years  seem  very  different  in  length  to 
a  grown  up  person,  compared  with  what  they  do  to  you.  It 
is  probable  Mr.  Heathcliff  proposed  going,  from  summer  to 
summer,  but  never  found  a  convenient  opportunity ;  and  now 
it  is  too  late.  Don't  trouble  him  with  questions  on  the  subject ; 
it  will  disturb  him  for  no  good." 

The  boy  was  fully  occupied  with  his  own  cogitations  for  the 
remainder  of  the  ride,  till  we  halted  before  the  farmhouse  gar- 
den gate.  I  watched  to  catch  his  impressions  in  his  counte- 
nance. He  surveyed  the  caived  front,  and  low-browed  lattices, 
the  straggling  gooseberry  bushes,  and  crooked  firs,  with  solemn 
intentness,  and  then  shook  his  head  ;  his  private  feelings  entire- 
ly disapproved  of  the  exterior  of  his  new  abode ;  but  he  had 
sense  to  postpone  complaining — there  might  be  compensation 
within. 

Before  he  dismounted,  I  went  and  opened  the  door.  It  was 
half-past  six  ;  the  family  had  just  finished  breakfast ;  the  servant 
was  clearing  and  wiping  down  the  table ;  Joseph  stood  by  his 
master's  chair  telling  some  tale  concerning  a  lame  horse;  and 
Hareton  was  preparing  for  the  hay -field. 

"  Hallo,  Nelly !"  cried  Mr.  Heathcliff,  when  he  saw  me. 
"  I  feared  I  should  have  to  come  down  and  fetch  my  property 


180  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

myself.  You've  brought  it,  have  you  1  Let  us  see  what  we 
can  make  of  it." 

He  got  up  and  strode  to  the  door :  Hareton  and  Joseph  fol- 
lowed in  gaping  curiosity.  Poor  Linton  ran  a  frightened  eye 
over  the  faces  of  the  three. 

"  Sure-ly,"  said  Joseph,  after  a  grave  inspection,  "  he's 
swopped  wi'  ye,  maister,  an'  yon's  his  lass  !" 

Heathcliff  having  stared  his  son  into  an  ague  of  confusion,  ut- 
terred  a  scornful  laugh. 

"God!  what  a  beauty!  what  a  lovely,  charming  thing!"  he 
exclaimed.  "  Haven't  they  reared  it  on  snails  and  sour  milk, 
Nelly  %  Oh,  damn  my  soul !  but  that's  worse  than  I  expected 
— and  the  devil  knows  I  was  not  sanguine  !" 

I  bid  the  trembling  and  bewildered  child  get  down  and  en- 
ter.. He  dicl  not  thoroughly  comprehend  the  meaning  of  his  fa- 
ther's speech,  or  whether  it  were  intended  for  him:  indeed,  he 
was  not  yet  certain  that  the  grim,  sneering  stranger  was  his 
father ;  but  he  clung  to  me  with  growing  trepidation  ;  and  on 
Mr.  Heathcliff's  taking  a  seat,  and  bidding  him  "  come  hither," 
he  hid  his  face  on  my  shoulder,  and  wept. 

"  Tut,  tut!"  said  Heathcliff,  stretching  out  a  hand  and  drag- 
ging him  roughly  between  his  knees,  and  then  holding  up  his 
head  by  the  chin.  "  None  of  that  nonsense  !  we're  not  going 
to  hurt  thee,  Linton — isn't  that  thy  name  1  Thou  art  thy 
mother's  child,  entirely  !  Where  is  my  share  in  thee,  puling 
chicken?" 

He  took  off  the  boy's  cap  and  brushed  back  his  thick  flaxen 
curls,  felt  his  slender  arms,  and  his  small  fingers ;  during  which 
examination,  Linton  ceased  crying,  and  lifted  his  great  blue 
eyes  to  inspect  the  inspector. 

"  Do  you  know  me  V*  asked  Heathcliff,  having  satisfied  him- 
self that  the  limbs  were  all  equally  frail  and  feeble. 

"  No !"  said  Linton,  with  a  gaze  of  vacant  fear. 

"  You've  heard  of  me,  I  dare  say  V' 

"  No,"  he  replied  again. 

"  No  ]  What  a  shame  of  your  mother,  never  to  waken  your 
filial  regard  for  me  !  You  are  my  son,  then,  I'll  tell  you  ;  and 
your  mother  was  a  wicked  slut  to  leave  you  in  ignorance  of  the 
sort  of  father  you  possessed.  Now,  don't  wince  and  color  up  ! 
though  it  is  something  to  see  you  have  not  white  blood.  Be  a 
good  lad  ;  and  I'll  do  for  you.  Nelly,  if  you  be  tired  you  may 
sit  down,  if  not,  get  home  again.     I  guess  you'll  report  what 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  181 


you  hear  and  see,  to  the  cipher  at  the  Grange ;  and  this  thing 
won't  be  settled  while  you  linger  about  it." 

"  Well,"  replied  I,  "  I  hope  you'll  be  kind  to  the  boy,  Mr. 
Heathcliff,  or  you'll  not  keep  him  long,  and  he's  all  you  have 
akin  in  the  wide  world  that  you  will  ever  know — remember." 

"  I'll  be  very  kind  to  him ;  you  needn't  fear !"  he  said,  laugh- 
ing. "  Only  nobody  else  must  be  kind  to  him.  I'm  jealous  of 
monopolizing  his  affection.  And,  to  begin  my  kindness,  Joseph, 
bring  the  lad  some  breakfast.  Hareton,  you  infernal  calf,  be- 
gone to  your  work.  Yes,  Nell,"  he  added  when  they  were  de- 
parted, "  my  son  is  prospective  owner  of  your  place,  and  I  should 
not  wish  him  to  die  till  I  was  certain  of  being  his  successor. 
Besides,  he's  mine,  and  I  want  the  triumph  of  seeing  ?ny  de- 
scendant fairly  lord  of  their  estates — my  child  hiring  their  chil- 
dren to  till  their  fathers'  lands  for  wages.  That  is  the  sole  con- 
sideration which  can  make  me  endure  the  whelp — I  despise  him 
for  himself,  and  hate  him  for  the  memories  he  revives  !  But  that 
consideration  is  sufficient;  he's  as  safe  with  me,  and  shall  be 
tended  as  carefully  as  your  master  tends  his  own.  I  have  a 
room  up-stairs,  furnished  for  him  in  handsome  style ;  I've  en- 
gaged a  tutor,  also,  to  come  three  times  a  week  from  twenty 
miles  distance,  to  teach  him  what  he  pleases  to  learn.  I've  or- 
dered Hareton  to  obey  him  ;  and,  in  fact,  I've  arranged  every 
thing  with  a  view  to  preserve  the  superior  and  the  gentleman  in 
him  above  his  associates.  I  do  regret,  however,  that  he  so  little 
deserves  the  trouble.  If  I  wished  any  blessing  in  the  world,  it 
was  to  find  him  a  worthy  object  of  pride,  and  I'm  bitterly  disap- 
pointed with  the  whey-faced,  whining  wretch  !" 

While  he  was  speaking,  Joseph  returned,  bearing  a  basin  of 
milk-porridge,  and  placed  it  before  Linton.  He  stirred  round 
the  homely  mess  with  a  look  of  aversion,  and  affirmed  he  could 
not  eat  it.  I  saw  the  old  man-servant  shared  largely  in  his  mas- 
ter's scorn  of  the  child,  though  he  was  compelled  to  retain  the 
sentiment  in  his  heart,  because  Heathcliff  plainly  meant  his  un- 
derlings to  hold  him  in  honor. 

"  Cannut  ate  it]"  repeated  he,  peering  in  Linton's  face,  and 
subduing  his  voice  to  a  whisper,  for  fear  of  being  overheard. 
"  But  Maister  Hareton  nivir  ate  nowt  else  when  he  wer  a  little 
un  ;  und  what  wer  gooid  eneugh  fur  him's  gooid  eneugh  fur  yah, 
aw's  rayther  think !" 

"I  shan't  eat  it!"  answered  Linton,  snappishly.  "  Take  it 
away." 


182  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

Joseph  snatched  up  the  food  indignantly,  and  brought  it 
to  us. 

"  Is  there  owt  ails  th'  victuals  V9.  he  asked,  thrusting  the  tray 
under  Heathcliff's  nose. 

"  What  should  ail  them  V1  he  said. 

"  "Wah  !"  answered  Joseph,  "  yon  dainty  chap  says  he  cannut 
ate  'em.  Bud  aw  guess  it's  raight.  His  mother  wer  just  soa — 
we  wer  a'most  too  mucky  tuh  sow  th'  corn  fur  makking  her 
breead." 

"  Don't  mention  his  mother  to  me,"  said  the  master,  angrily. 
"  Get  him  something  that  he  can  eat,  that's  all.  What  is  his 
usual  food,  Nelly  V 

I  suggested  boiled  milk  or  tea,  and  the  housekeeper  received 
instructions  to  prepare  some. 

"Come,"  I  reflected,  "his  father's  selfishness  may  contribute 
to  his  comfort.  He  perceives  his  delicate  constitution,  and  the 
necessity  of  treating  him  tolerably.  I'll  console  Mr.  Edgar  by 
acquainting  him  with  the  turn  Heathcliff's  humor  has  taken." 

Having  no  excuse  for  lingering  longer,  I  slipped  out,  while 
Linton  was  engaged  in  timidly  rebuffing  the  advances  of  a  friend- 
ly sheep-dog.  But  he  was  too  much  on  the  alert  to  be  cheated  : 
as  I  closed  the  door  I  heard  a  cry,  and  a  frantic  repetition  of  the 
words — 

"  Don't  leave  me  !     I'll  not  stay  here  !     I'll  not  stay  here  !" 

Then  the  latch  was  raised  and  fell — they  did  not  suffer  him 
to  come  forth.  I  mounted  Minny,  and  urged  her  to  a  trot,  and 
so  my  brief  guardianship  ended. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

We  had  sad  work  with  little  Cathy  that  day :  she  rose  in 
high  glee,  eager  to  join  her  cousin ;  and  such  passionate  tears 
and  lamentations  followed  the  news  of  his  departure,  that  Edgar 
himself  was  obliged  to  soothe  her  by  affirming  he  should  come 
back  soon ;  he  added,  however,  "  if  I  can  get  him,"  and  there 
were  no  hopes  of  that.  This  promise  poorly  pacified  her  ;  but 
time  was  more  potent ;  and  though  still  at  intervals  she  inquired 
of  her  father  when  Linton  would  return,  before  she  did  see  him 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  183 

again  his  features  had  waxed  so  dim  in  her  memory  that  she  did 
not  recognize  him. 

When  I  chanced  to  encounter  the  housekeeper  of  Wuthering 
Heights,  in  paying  business  visits  to  Gimmerton,  I  used  to  ask 
how  the  young  master  got  on  ;  for  he  lived  almost  as  secluded 
as  Catherine  herself,  and  was  never  to  be  seen.  I  could  gather 
from  her  that  he  continued  in  weak  health,  and  was  a  tiresome 
inmate.  She  said  Mr.  HeathclifF  seemed  to  dislike  him  ever 
longer  and  worse,  though  he  took  some  trouble  to  conceal  it. 
He  had  an  antipathy  to  the  sound  of  his  voice,  and  could  not  do 
at  all  with  his  sitting  in  the  same  room  with  him  many  minutes 
together.  There  seldom  passed  much  talk  between  them  ;  Lin- 
ton learned  his  lessons,  and  spent  his  evenings  in  a  small  apart- 
ment they  called  the  parlor ;  or  else  lay  in  bed  all  day  ;  for  he 
was  constantly  getting  coughs,  and  colds,  and  aches,  and  pains 
of  some  sort. 

"  And  I  never  knew  such  a  faint-hearted  creature,"  added  the 
woman ;  "  nor  one  so  careful  of  hisseln.  He  will  go  on,  if  I 
leave  the  window  open  a  bit  late  in  the  evening.  Oh  !  it's  killing, 
a  breath  of  night  air !  And  he  must  have  a  fire  in  the  middle 
of  summer ;  and  Joseph's  'bacca  pipe  is  poison ;  and  he  must 
always  have  sweets  and  dainties,  and  always  milk,  milk  for  ever 
— heeding  naught  how  the  rest  of  us  are  pinched  in  winter — and 
there  he'll  sit,  wrapped  in  his  furred  cloak,  in  his  chair  by  the 
fire,  and  some  toast  and  water,  or  other  slop,  on  the  hob  to  sip 
at ;  and  if  Hareton,  for  pity,  comes  to  amuse  him — Hareton  is 
not  bad-natured,  though  he's  rough — they're  sure  to  part,  one 
swearing,  and  the  other  crying.  I  believe  the  master  would 
relish  Earnshaw's  thrashing  him  to  a  mummy,  if  he  were  not 
his  son  :  and,  I'm  certain,  he  would  be  fit  to  turn  him  out  of 
doors,  if  he  knew  half  the  nursing  he  gives  hisseln.  But  then, 
he  won't  go  into  danger  of  temptation  ;  he  never  enters  the 
parlor,  and  should  Linton  show  those  ways  in  the  house  where 
he  is,  he  sends  him  up  stairs  directly." 

I  divined,  from  this  account,  that  utter  lack  of  sympathy  had 
rendered  young  Heathcliff  selfish  and  disagreeable,  if  he  were 
not  so  originally  ;  and  my  interest  in  him,  consequently,  decayed ; 
though  still  I  was  moved  with  a  sense  of  grief  at  his  lot,  and  a 
wish  that  he  had  been  left  with  us. 

Mr.  Edgar  encouraged  me  to  gain  information  ;  he  thought  a 
great  deal  about  him,  I  fancy,  and  would  have  run  some  risk  to 
see  him  ;  and  he  told  me  once  to  ask  the  housekeeper  whether 


184  WUTHERING       HEIGHTS. 

he  ever  came  into  the  village  1  She  said  he  had  only  been 
twice,  on  horseback,  accompanying  his  father :  and  both  times 
he  pretended  to  be  quite  knocked  up  for  three  or  four  days 
afterward.  The  housekeeper  left,  if  I  recollect  rightly,  two 
years  after  he  came ;  and  another,  whom  I  did  not  know,  was 
her  successor  :  she  lives  there  still. 

Time  wore  on  at  the  Grange  in  its  former  pleasant  way,  till 
Miss  Cathy  reached  sixteen.  On  the  anniversary  of  her  birth 
we  never  manifested  any  signs  of  rejoicing,  because  it  was  also 
the  anniversary  of  my  late  mistress's  death.  Her  father  invari- 
ably spent  that  day  alone  in  the  library ;  and  walked,  at  dusk, 
as  far  as  Gimmerton  kirkyard,  where  he  would  frequently 
prolong  his  stay  beyond  midnight.  Therefore  Catherine  was 
thrown  on  her  own  resources  for  amusement. 

This  twentieth  of  March  was  a  beautiful  spring  day,  and  when 
her  father  had  retired,  my  young  lady  came  down,  dressed  for 
going  out,  and  said  she  had  asked  to  have  a  ramble  on  the  edge 
of  the  moors- with  me;  and  Mr.  Linton  had  given  her  leave,  if 
we  went  only  a  short  distance,  and  were  back  within  the  hour. 

"So  make  haste,  Ellen!"  she  cried.  "I  know  where  I  wish 
to  go ;  where  a  colony  of  moor  game  are  settled ;  I  want  to  see 
whether  they  have  made  their  nests  yet." 

"  That  must  be  a  good  distance  up,"  I  answered ;  "  they 
don't  breed  on  the  edge  of  the  moor." 

"  No,  it's  not,"  she  said.     "  I've  gone  very  near  with  papa." 

I  put  on  my  bonnet,  and  sallied  out ;  thinking  nothing  more 
of  the  matter.  She  bounded  before  me,  and  returned  to  my 
side,  and  was  off  again  like  a  young  grayhound ;  and,  at  first,  I 
found  plenty  of  entertainment  in  listening  to  the  larks  singing 
far  and  near ;  and  enjoying  the  sweet,  warm  sunshine  ;  and 
watching  her,  my  pet  and  my  delight,  with  her  golden  ringlets 
flying  loose  behind,  and  her  bright  cheek,  as  soft  and  pure  in  its 
bloom  as  a  wild  rose,  and  her  eyes  radiant  with  cloudlesss  pleas- 
ure. She  was  a  happy  creature,  and  an  angel,  in  those  days. 
It's  a  pity  she  could  not  be  content. 

"Well,"  said  I,  "  where  are  your  moor  game,  Miss  Cathy] 
We  should  be  at  them — the  Grange  park-fence  is  a  great  way 
off  now." 

"  Oh,  a  little  further — only  a  little  further,  Ellen,"  was  her 
answer,  continually.  "  Climb  to  that  hillock,  pass  that  bank, 
and  by  the  time  you  reach  the  other  side,  I  shall  have  raised  the 
birds." 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  185 

But  there  were  so  many  hillocks  and  banks  to  climb  and  pass, 
that,  at  length,  I  began  to  be  weary,  and  told  her  we  must  halt, 
and  retrace  our  steps.  I  shouted  to  her,  as  she  had  outstripped 
me  a  long  way;  she  either  did  not  hear,  or  did  not  regard,  for 
she  still  sprang  on,  and  I  was  compelled  to  follow.  Finally,  she 
dived  into  a  hollow ;  and  before  I  came  in  sight  of  her  again, 
she  was  two  miles  nearer  Wuthering  Heights  than  her  own 
home  ;  and  I  beheld  a  couple  of  persons  arrest  her,  one  of  whom 
I  felt  convinced  was  Mr.  Heathcliff  himself. 

Cathy  had  been  caught  in  the  fact  of  plundering,  or,  at  least, 
hunting  out  the  nests  of  the  grouse.  The  Heights  were  Heath- 
cliff's  land,  and  he  was  reproving  the  poacher. 

"I've  neither  taken  any  nor  found  any,"  she  said,  as  I  toiled 
to  them,  expanding  her  hands  in  corroboration  of  the  statement. 
"  I  didn't  mean  to  take  them;  but  papa  told  me  there  were 
quantities  up  here,  and  I  wished  to  see  the  eggs." 

Heathcliff  glanced  at  me  with  an  ill-meaning  smile,  express- 
ing his  acquaintance  with  the  party,  and,  consequently,  his  ma- 
levolence toward  it,  and  demanded  who  "  papa"  was  % 

"  Mr.  Linton  of  Thrushcross  Grange,"  she  replied.  "  I  thought 
you  did  not  know  me,  or  you  wouldn't  have  spoken  in  that 
way." 

"  You  suppose  papa  is  highly  esteemed  and  respected  then?' 
he  said,  sarcastically. 

"And  what  are  you?"  inquired  Catherine,  gazing  curiously 
on  the  speaker.    "  That  man  I've  seen  before.    Is  he  your  son  Vf 

She  pointed  to  Hareton,  the  other  individual ;  who  had  gained 
nothing  but  increased  bulk  and  strength  by  the  addition  of  two 
years  to  his  age  :  he  seemed  as  awkward  and  rough  as  ever. 

"  Miss  Cathy,"  I  interrupted,  "  it  will  be  three  hours  instead 
of  one,  that  we  are  out,  presently.     We  really  must  go  back." 

"  No,  that  man  is  not  my  son,"  answered  Heathcliff,  pushing 
me  aside.  "  But  I  have  one,  and  you  have  seen  him  before 
too ;  and,  though  your  nurse  is  in  a  hurry,  I  think  both  you  and 
she  would  be  the  better  for  a  little  rest.  Will  you  just  turn  this 
nab  of  heath,  and  walk  into  my  house  1  You'll  get  home  earlier 
for  the  ease  ;   and  you  shall  receive  a  kind  welcome." 

I  whispered  Catherine  that  she  mustn't,  on  any  account,  ac- 
cede to  the  proposal  ;  it  was  entirely  out  of  the  question. 

"  Why  ]"  she  asked  aloud.  "  I'm  tired  of  running,  and  the 
ground  is  dewy — I  can't  sit  here.  Let  us  go,  Ellen  !  Besides, 
he  says  I  have  seen  his  son.     He's  mistaken,  I  think ;  but  I 


186  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

guess  where  he  lives — at  the  farmhouse  I  visited  in  coming  from 
Penistone  Crags.     Don't  you  V* 

"  I  do.  Come,  Nelly,  hold  your  tongue — it  will  be  a  treat 
for  her  to  look  in  on  us.  Hareton,  get  forward  with  the  lass. 
You  shall  walk  with  me,  Nelly." 

"  No,  she's  not  going  to  any  such  place,"  I  cried,  struggling 
to  release  my  arm  which  he  had  seized ;  but  she  was  almost  at 
the  door-stones  already,  scampering  round  the  brow  at  full  speed. 
Her  appointed  companion  did  not  pretend  to  escort  her ;  he 
shyed  off  by  the  roadside,  and  vanished. 

"  Mr.  Heathcliff,  it's  very  wrong,"  I  continued,  "  you  know 
you  mean  no  good ;  and  there  she'll  see  Linton,  and  all  will  be 
told  as  soon  as  ever  we  return,  and  I  shall  have  the  blame." 

"  I  want  her  to  see  Linton,"  he  answered  :  "he's  looking  bet- 
ter these  few  days  ;  it's  not  often  he's  fit  to  be  seen.  And  we'll 
soon  persuade  her  to  keep  the  visit  secret — where  is  the  harm 
of  it?" 

"  The  harm  of  it  is,  that  her  father  would  hate  me,  if  he  found 
I  suffered  her  to  enter  your  house ;  and  1  am  convinced  you 
have  a  bad  design  in  encouraging  her  to  do  so,"  I  replied. 

"  My  design  is  as  honest  as  possible.  I'll  inform  you  of  its 
whole  scope,"  he  said.  "  That  the  two  cousins  may  fall  in  love 
and  get  married.  I'm  acting  generously  to  your  master ;  his 
young  chit  has  no  expectations;  and  should  she  second  my 
wishes,  she'll  be  provided  for  at  once  as  joint  successor  with 
Linton." 

"  If  Linton  died,"  I  answered,  "  and  his  life  is  quite  uncer- 
tain, Catherine  would  be  the  heir." 

"  No  she  would  not,"  he  said ;  "  there  is  no  clause  in  the  will 
to  secure  it  so ;  his  property  would  go  to  me ;  but,  to  prevent 
disputes,  I  desire  their  union,  and  am  resolved  to  bring  it  about." 

"  And  I'm  resolved  she  shall  never  approach  your  house  with 
me  again,"  I  returned,  as  we  reached  the  gate,  where  Miss 
Cathy  waited  our  coming, 

Heathcliff  bid  me  be  quiet ;  and,  preceding  us  up  the  path, 
hastened  to  open  the  door.  My  young  lady  gave  him  several 
looks,  as  if  she  could  not  exactly  make  up  her  mind  what  to 
think  of  him ;  but  now  he  smiled  when  he  met  her  eye,  and 
softened  his  voice  in  addressing  her,  and  I  was  foolish  enough 
to  imagine  the  memory  of  her  mother  might  disarm  him  from 
desiring  her  injury. 

Linton  stood  on  the  hearth.     He  had  been  out  walking  in  the 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  187 

fields,  for  his  cap  was  on,  and  he  was  calling  to  Joseph  to  bring 
him  dry  shoes.  He  had  grown  tall  of  his  age,  still  wanting 
some  months  of  sixteen.  His  features  were  pretty  yet,  and  his 
eye  and  complexion  brighter  than  I  remembered  them,  though 
with  merely  temporary  lustre  borrowed  from  the  salubrious  air 
and  genial  sun. 

"  Now,  who  is  that  V  asked  Mr.  Heath  cliff,  turning  to  Cathy. 
"Can  you  tell  T' 

"  Your  son  %"  she  said,  having  doubtfully  surveyed  first  one 
and  then  the  other. 

"Yes,  yes,"  answered  he;  "but  is  this  the  only  time  you 
have  beheld  him?  Think!  Ah!  you  have  a  short  memory. 
Linton,  don't  you  recall  your  cousin,  that  you  used  to  tease  us 
so  with  wishing  to  see  %" 

"What,  Linton!"  cried  Cathy,  kindling  into  joyful  surprise 
at  the  name.  "  Is  that  little  Linton "?  He's  taller  than  I  am ! 
Are  you  Linton  1" 

The  youth  stepped  forward  and  acknowledged  himself:  she 
kissed  him  fervently,  and  they  gazed  with  wonder  at  the  change 
time  had  wrought  in  the  appearance  of  each. 

Catherine  had  reached  her  full  height;  her  figure  was  both 
plump  and  slender,  elastic  as  steel,  and  her  whole  aspect  spark- 
ling with  health  and  spirits.  Linton's  looks  and  movements 
were  very  languid,  and  his  form  extremely  slight ;  but  there 
was  a  grace  in  his  manner  that  mitigated  these  defects,  and 
rendered  him  not  unpleasing. 

After  exchanging  numerous  marks  of  fondness  with  him,  his 
cousin  went  to  Mr.  Heathcliff,  who  lingered  by  the  door,  divid- 
ing his  attention  between  the  objects  inside,  and  those  that  lay 
without,  pretending,  that  is,  to  observe  the  latter,  and  really 
noting  the  former  alone. 

"  And  you  are  my  uncle,  then  !"  she  cried,  reaching  up  to 
salute  him.  "  I  thought  I  liked  you,  though  you  were  cross  at 
first.  Why  don't  you  visit  at  the  Grange  with  Linton  ]  To 
live  all  these  years  such  close  neighbors,  and  never  see  us,  is 
odd  ;  what  have  you  done  so  for  %n 

"  I  visited  it  once  or  twice  too  often  before  you  were  born," 
he  answered.  "  There — damn  it !  If  you  have  any  kisses  to 
spare,  give  them  to  Linton — they  are  thrown  away  on  me." 

"  Naughty  Ellen !"  exclaimed  Catherine,  flying  to  attack  me 
next  with  her  lavish  caresses.  "  Wicked  Ellen !  to  try  to  hinder 
me  from  entering.     But  I'll  take  this  walk  every  morning  in 


188  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

future — may  I,  uncle — and  sometimes  bring  papa  1  Won't  you 
be  glad  to  see  us]" 

"  Of  course  !"  replied  the  uncle,  with  a  hardly  suppressed 
grimace,  resulting  from  his  deep  aversion  to  both  the  proposed 
visitors.  "  But  stay,"  he  continued,  turning  toward  the  young 
lady.  "  Now  I  think  of  it,  I'd  better  tell  you.  Mr.  Linton  has 
a  prejudice  against  me;  we  quarreled  at  one  time  of  our  lives 
with  unchristian  ferocity;  and,  if  you  mention  coming  here  to 
him,  he'll  put  a  veto  on  your  visits  altogether.  Therefore,  you 
must  not  mention  it,  unless  you  be  careless  of  seeing  your 
cousin  hereafter — you  may  come,  if  you  will,  but  you  must  not 
mention  it." 

"  Why  did  you  quarrel?'  asked  Catherine,  considerably  crest- 
fallen. 

'*  He  thought  me  too  poor  to  wed  his  sister,"  answered  Heath- 
eliif,  "  and  was  grieved  that  I  got  her — his  pride  was  hurt,  and 
he'll  never  forgive  it." 

"That's  wrong!"  said  the  young  lady:  "sometime  I'll  tell 
him  so;  but  Linton  and  I  have  no  share  in  your  quarrel.  I'll 
not  come  here,  then,  he  shall  come  to  the  Grange." 

"  It  will  be  too  far  for  me,"  murmured  her  cousin,  "  to  walk 
four  miles  would  kill  me.  No,  come  here,  Miss  Catherine,  now 
and  then,  not  every  morning,  but  once  or  twice  a  week." 

The  father  launched  toward  his  son  a  glance  of  bitter  con- 
tempt. 

"  I  am  afraid,  Nelly,  I  shall  lose  my  labor,"  he  muttered  to 
me.  "  Miss  Catherine,  as  the  ninny  calls  her,  will  discover  his 
value,  and  send  him  to  the  devil.  Now,  if  it  had  been  Hareton 
— do  you  know  that,  twenty  times  a  day,  I  covet  Hareton,  with 
all  his  degradation  1  I'd  have  loved  the  lad  had  he  been  some 
one  else.  But  I  think  he's  safe  from  her  love.  I'll  pit  him 
against  that  paltry  creature,  unless  it  bestir  itself  briskly.  We 
calculate  it  will  scarcely  last  till  it  is  eighteen.  Oh,  confound 
the  vapid  thing.  He's  absorbed  in  drying  his  feet,  and  never 
looks  at  her — Linton  !" 

"  Yes,  father,"  answered  the  boy. 

"  Have  you  nothing  to  show  your  cousin,  any  where  about ; 
not  even  a  rabbit,  or  a  weasel's  nest  1  Take  her  into  the  gar- 
den, before  you  change  your  shoes ;  and  into  the  stable  to  see 
your  horse." 

"  Wouldn't  you  rather  sit  here  ]"  asked  Linton,  addressing 
Cathy  in  a  tone  which  expressed  reluctance  to  move  again. 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  189 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  replied,  casting  a  longing  look  to  the 
door,  and  evidently  eager  to  be  active. 

He  kept  his  seat,  and  shrank  closer  to  the  fire.  Heathcliff 
rose,  and  went  into  the  kitchen,  and  from  thence  to  the  yard, 
calling  out  for  Hareton.  Hareton  responded,  and  presently  the 
two  re-entered.  The  young  man  had  been  washing  himself,  as 
was  visible  by  the  glow  on  his  cheeks,  and  his  wetted  hair. 

"  Oh,  I'll  ask  you,  uncle ;"  cried  Miss  Cathy,  recollecting  the 
housekeeper's  assertion.     "  That's  not  my  cousin,  is  he  V 

"  Yes,"  he  replied,  "  your  mother's  nephew.  Don't  you  like 
him]" 

Catherine  looked  queer. 

"  Is  he  not  a  handsome  lad  V  he  continued. 

The  uncivil  little  thing  stood  on  tiptoe,  and  whispered  a 
sentence  in  HeathclifF's  ear. 

He  laughed ;  Hareton  darkened  ;  I  perceived  he  was  very 
sensitive  to  suspected  slights,  and  had  obviously  a  dim  notion  of 
his  inferiority.  But  his  master  or  guardian  chased  the  frown 
by  exclaiming — 

"  You'll  be  the  favorite  among  us,  Hareton !  She  says  you 
are  a — what  was  it  %  Well,  something  very  nattering.  Here ! 
you  go  with  her  round  the  farm.  And  behave  like  a  gentle- 
man, mind  !  Don't  use  any  bad  words ;  and  don't  stare  when 
the  young  lady  is  not  looking  at  you,  and  be  ready  to  hide  your 
face  when  she  is ;  and,  when  you  speak,  say  your  words  slowly, 
and  keep  your  hands  out  of  your  pockets.  Be  off,  and  entertain 
her  as  nicely  as  you  can." 

He  watched  the  couple  walking  past  the  window.  Earnshaw 
had  his  countenance  completely  averted  from  his  companion. 
He  seemed  studying  the  familiar  landscape  with  a  stranger's, 
and  an  artist's  interest.  Catherine  took  a  sly  look  at  him,  ex- 
pressing small  admiration.  She  then  turned  her  attention  to 
seeking  out  objects  of  amusement  for  herself,  and  tripped  mer- 
rily on,  lilting  a  tune  to  supply  the  lack  of  conversation. 

"  I've  tied  his  tongue,"  observed  Heathcliff.  "  He'll  not 
tenture  a  single  syllable  all 'the  time!  Nelly,  you  recollect 
me  at  his  age — nay,  some  years  younger.  Did  I  ever  look  so 
stupid,  so  '  gaumless,'  as  Joseph  calls  it  V 

"  Worse,"  I  replied,  "  because  more  sullen  with  it." 

"I've  a  pleasure  in  him!"  he  continued,  reflecting  aloud. 
"%  He  has  satisfied  my  expectations.  If  he  were  a  born  fool  I 
should  not  enjoy  it  half  so  much.     But  he's  no  fool ;  and  I  can 


190  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

sympathize  with  all  his  feelings,  having  felt  them  myself.  I 
know  what  he  suffers  now,  for  instance,  exactly — it  is  merely  a 
beginning  of  what  he  shall  suffer,  though.  And  he'll  never  be 
able  to  emerge  from  his  bathos  of  coarseness  and  ignorance. 
I've  got  him  faster  than  his  scoundrel  of  a  father  secured  me, 
and  lower  ;  for  he  takes  a  pride  in  his  brutishness.  I've  taught 
him  to  scorn  every  thing  extra-animal,  as  silly  and  weak. 
Don't  you  think  Hindley  would  be  proud  of  his  son,  if  he 
could  see  him  %  almost  as  proud  as  I  am  of  mine.  But  there's 
this  difference,  one  is  gold  put  to  the  use  of  paving  stones ; 
and  the  other  is  tin  polished  to  ape  a  service  of  silver.  Mine 
has  nothing  valuable  about  it ;  yet  I  shall  have  the  merit  of 
making  it  go  as  far  as  such  poor  stuff  can  go.  His  had  first- 
rate  qualities,  and  they  are  lost — rendered  worse  than  unavail- 
ing. I  have  nothing  to  regret ;  he  would  have  more  than  any 
but  I  are  aware  of.  And  the  best  of  it  is,  Hareton  is  damnably 
fond  of  me  !  You'll  own  that  I've  out-matched  Hindley  there. 
If  the  dead  villain  could  rise  from  his  grave  to  abuse  me  for 
his  offspring's  wrongs,  I  should  have  the  fun  of  seeing  the  said 
offspring  fight  him  back  again,  indignant  that  he  should  dare  to 
rail  at  the  one  friend  he  has  in  the  world !" 

Heathcliff  chuckled  a  fiendish  laugh  at  the  idea ;  I  made  no 
reply,  because  I  saw  that  he  expected  none. 

Meantime,  our  young  companion,  who  sat  too  removed  from 
us  to  hear  what  was  said,  began  to  evince  symptoms  of  uneasi- 
ness :  probably  repenting  that  he  had  denied  himself  the  treat 
of  Catherine's  society,  for  fear  of  a  little  fatigue.  His  father 
remarked  the  restless  glances  wandering  to  the  window,  and 
the  hand  irresolutely  extended  toward  h?s  cap. 

"  Get  up,  you  idle  boy  !"  he  exclaimed  with  assumed  hearti- 
ness. "  Away  after  them — they  are  just  at  the  corner,  by  the 
stand  of  hives." 

Linton  gathered  his  energies,  and  left  the  hearth.  The 
lattice  was  open,  and,  as  he  stepped  out,  I  heard  Cathy  in- 
quiring of  her  unsociable  attendant,  what  was  that  inscription 
over  the  door  *? 

Hareton  stared  up,  and  scratched  his  head  like  a  true 
clown. 

"  It's  some  damnable  writing ;"  he  answered.  "  I  can  not 
read  it." 

*  Can't  read  it '?"  cried  Catherine,  "  I  can  read  it — it's  En- 
glish— but  I  want  to  know  why  it  is  there." 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  191 

Linton  giggled — the  first  appearance  of  mirth  he  had  ex- 
hibited. 

"  He  does  not  know  his  letters,"  he  said  to  his  cousin.  "  Could 
you  believe  in  the  existence  of  such  a  colossal  dunce  V 

"Is  he  all  as  he  should  be  T'  asked  Miss  Cathy  seriously, 
"  or  is  he  simple — not  right  V  I've  questioned  him  twice  now, 
and  each  time  he  looked  so  stupid,  I  think  he  does  not  under- 
stand me  ;  I  can  hardly  understand  Mm  I'm  sure. 

Linton  repeated  his  laugh,  and  glanced  at  Hareton  taunt- 
ingly, who  certainly  did  not  seem  quite  clear  of  comprehension 
at  that  moment. 

"  There's  nothing  the  matter  but  laziness,  is  there,  Earn- 
shaw  i"  he  said.  "  My  cousin  fancies  you  are  an  idiot.  There 
you  experience  the  consequence  of  scorning  '  book  laming,'  as 
you  would  say.  Have  you  noticed,  Catherine,  his  frightful 
Yorkshire  pronunciation  V 

"Why,  where  the  devil  is  the  use  on't  I"  growled  Hareton, 
more  ready  in  answering  his  daily  companion.  He  was  about 
to  enlarge  further,  but  the  two  youngsters  broke  into  a  noisy  fit 
of  merriment ;  my  giddy  Miss  being  delighted  to  discover  that 
she  might  turn  his  strange  talk  to  matter  of  amusement. 

"Where  is  the  use  of  'the  devil'  in  that  sentence  V  tittered 
Linton.  "  Papa  told  you  not  to  say  any  bad  words,  and  you 
can't  open  your  mouth  without  one.  Do  try  to  behave  like  a 
gentleman,  now  do !" 

"  If  thou  wern't  more  a  lass  than  a  lad,  I'd  fell  thee  this 
minute,  I  would ;  pitiful  lath  of  a  crater !"  retorted  the  angry 
boor  retreating,  while  his  face  burned  with  mingled  rage  and 
mortification  ;  for  he  was  conscious  of  being  insulted,  and  em- 
barrassed how  to  resent  it. 

Mr.  Heathcliff,  having  overheard  the  conversation,  as  well  as 
I,  smiled  when  he  saw  him  go,  but  immediately  afterward  cast 
a  look  of  singular  aversion  on  the  flippant  pair,  who  remained 
chattering  in  the  door-way.  The  boy  finding  animation  enough 
while  discussing  Hareton's  faults  and  deficiencies,  and  relating 
anecdotes  of  his  goings  on  ;  and  the  girl  relishing  his  pert  and 
spiteful  sayings,  without  considering  the  ill-nature  they  evinced : 
but  I  began  to  dislike,  more  than  to  compassionate,  Linton, 
and  to  excuse  his  father,  in  some  measure,  for  holding  him  cheap. 

We  stayed  till  afternoon  ;  I  could  not  tear  Miss  Cathy  away 
before  ;  but,  happily,  my  master  had  not  quitted  his  apartment, 
and  remained  ignorant  of  our  prolonged  absence. 


192  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

As  we  walked  home,  I  would  fain  have  enlightened  my 
charge  on  the  characters  of  the  people  we  had  quitted;  but 
she  got  it  into  her  head  that  I  was  prejudiced  against  them. 

"Aha!"  she  cried,  "you  take  papa's  side,  Ellen — you  are 
partial,  I  know,  or  else  you  wouldn't  have  cheated  me  so  many 
years,  into  the  notion  that  Linton  lived  a  long  way  from  here, 
I'm  really  extremely  angry,  only,  I'm  so  pleased,  I  can't  show 
it  !  But  you  must  hold  your  tongue  about  my  uncle — he's  my 
uncle,  remember,  and  I'll  scold  papa  for  quarreling  with  him." 

And  so  she  ran  on,  till  I  dropped  endeavoring  to  convince  her 
of  her  mistake.  She  did  not  mention  the  visit  that  night,  be- 
cause she  did  not  see  Mr.  Linton.  Next  day  it  all  came  out, 
sadly  to  my  chagrin ;  and  still,  I  was  not  altogether  sorry :  I 
thought  the  burden  of  directing  and  warning  would  be  more 
efficiently  borne  by  him  than  me,  but  he  was  too  timid  in  giving 
satisfactory  reasons  for  his  wish  that  she  would  shun  connection 
with  the  household  of  the  Heights,  and  Catherine  liked  good 
reasons  for  every  restraint  that  harassed  her  petted  will. 

"  Papa !"  she  exclaimed  after  the  morning's  salutations, 
"  guess  whom  I  saw  yesterday,  in  my  walk  on  the  moors. 
Ah,  papa,  you  started !  you've  not  done  right,  have  you,  now  1 
I  saw.  But  listen,  and  you  shall  hear  how  I  found  you  out, 
and  Ellen,  who  is  in  league  with  you,  and  yet  pretended  to  pity 
me  so,  when  I  kept  hoping,  and  was  always  disappointed  about 
Linton's  coming  back!" 

She  gave  a  faithful  account  of  her  excursion  and  its  conse- 
quences ;  and  my  master,  though  he  cast  more  than  one  re- 
proachful look  at  me,  said  nothing,  till  she  had  concluded. 
Then  he  drew  her  to  him,  and  asked  if  she  knew  why  he  had 
concealed  Linton's  near  neighborhood  from  her1?  Could  she 
think  it  was  to  deny  her  a  pleasure  that  she  might  harmlessly 
enjoy] 

"  It  was  because  you  disliked  Mr.  HeathclifF,''  she  answered. 

"  Then  you  believe  I  care  more  for  my  own  feelings  than 
yours,  Cathy  V  he  said.  "  No,  it  was  not  because  I  disliked  Mr. 
HeathclifF;  but  because  Mr.  HeathclifF  dislikes  me;  and  is  a 
most  diabolical  man,  delighting  to  wrong  and  ruin  those  he 
hates,  if  they  give  him  the  slightest  opportunity.  I  knew  that 
you  could  not  keep  up  an  acquaintance  with  your  cousin,  with- 
out being  brought  into  contact  with  him  ;  and  I  knew  he  would 
detest  you,  on  my  account ;  so,  for  your  own  good,  and  nothing 
else,  I  took  precautious  that  you  should  not  see  Linton  again. 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  193 

I  meant  to  explain  this,  some  time,  as  you  grew  older,  and  I'm 
sorry  I  delayed  it !" 

"  But  Heathcliff  was  quite  cordial,  papa,"  observed  Catherine, 
not  at  all  convinced  ;  "  and  he  didn't  object  to  our  seeing  each 
other :  he  said  I  might  come  to  his  house  when  I  pleased,  only 
I  must  not  tell  you,  because  you  had  quarreled  with  him,  and 
would  not  forgive  him  for  marrying  aunt  Isabella.  And  you 
won't — you  are  the  one  to  be  blamed — he  is  willing  to  let  us  be 
friends,  at  least ;  Linton  and  I — and  you  are  not." 

My  master,  perceiving  that  she  would  not  take  his  word  for 
her  uncle-in-law's  evil  disposition,  gave  a  hasty  sketch  of  his 
conduct  to  Isabella,  and  the  manner  in  which  Wuthering 
Heights  became  his  property.  He  could  not  bear  to  discourse 
long  upon  the  topic,  for  though  he  spoke  little  of  it,  he  still  felt 
the  same  horror,  and  detestation  of  his  ancient  enemy  that  had 
occupied  his  heart  ever  since  Mrs.  Linton's  death.  "  She  might 
have  been  living  yet,  if  it  had  not  been  for  him  !"  was  his  con- 
stant, bitter  reflection;  and,  in  his  eyes,  Heathcliff  seemed  a 
murderer. 

Miss  Cathy,  conversant  with  no  bad  deeds  except  her  own 
slight  acts  of  disobedience,  injustice,  and  passion,  rising  from  hot 
temper,  and  thoughtlessness,  and  repented  of  on  the  day  they 
were  committed,  was  amazed  at  the  blackness  of  spirit  that 
could  brood  on,  and  cover  revenge  for  years ;  and  deliberately 
prosecute  its  plans,  without  a  visitation  of  remorse.  She  ap- 
peared so  deeply  impressed  and  shocked  at  this  new  view  of 
human  nature — excluded  from  all  her  studies  and  all  her  ideas 
till  now — that  Mr.  Edgar  deemed  it  unnecessary  to  pursue  the 
subject.     He  merely  added, 

"  You  will  know  hereafter,  darling,  why  I  wish  you  to  avoid 
his  house  and  family — now,  return  to  your  old  employments  and 
amusements,  and  think  no  more  about  them !" 

Catherine  kissed  her  father,  and  sat  down  quietly  to  her 
lessons  for  a  couple  of  hours,  according  to  custom :  then  she 
accompanied  him  into  the  grounds,  and  the  whole  day  passed 
as  usual:  but  in  the  evening,  when  she  had  retired  to  her  room, 
and  I  went  to  help  her  to  undress,  I  found  her  crying,  on  her 
knees  by  the  bedside. 

"  Oh,  fie,  silly  child  !"  I  exclaimed.  "  If  you  had  any  real 
griefs,  you'd  be  ashamed  to  waste  a  tear  on  this  little  contra- 
riety. You  never  had  one  shadow  of  substantial  sorrow,  Miss 
Catherine.     Suppose,  for  a  minute,  that  master  and  I  were  dead, 

I 


194  W  U  T  II  E  R  I  N  G      HEIGHTS. 

and  you  were  by  yourself  in  the  world — how  would  you  feel 
then  ]  Compare  the  present  occasion  with  such  an  affliction  as 
that,  and  be  thankful  for  the  friends  you  have,  instead  of  covet- 
ing more." 

"  I'm  not  crying  for  myself,  Ellen,"  she  answered,  "  it's  for 
him.  He  expected  to  see  me  again  to-morrow,  and  then  he'll 
be  so  disappointed — and  he'll  wait  for  me,  and  I  shan't  come  !" 

"  Nonsense !"  said  I,  "  do  you  imagine  he  has  thought  as 
much  of  you  as  you  have  of  him  ]  Hasn't  he  Hareton  for  a 
companion]  Not  one  in  a  hundred  would  weep  at  losing  a 
relation  they  had  just  seen  twice,  for  two  afternoons.  Linton 
will  conjecture  how  it  is,  and  trouble  himself  no  further  about 
you." 

"  But  may  I  not  write  a  note  to  tell  him  why  I  can  not 
come  1  she  asked  rising  to  her  feet.  "  And  just  send  those 
books  I  promised  to  lend  him.  His  books  are  not  as  nice  as 
mine,  and  he  wanted  to  have  them  extremely,  when  I  told  him 
how  interesting  they  were.     May  I  not,  Ellen  V 

"  No,  indeed,  no  indeed  !"  replied  I  with  decision.  "  Then 
he  would  write  to  you,  and  there'd  never  be  an  end  of  it.  No, 
Miss  Catherine,  the  acquaintance  must  be  dropped  entirely — 
so%your  papa  expects,  and  I  shall  see  that  it  is  done  !" 

"  But  how  can  one  little  note — "  she  recommenced,  putting 
on  an  imploring  countenance. 

"  Silence  !"  I  interrupted.  "  "We'll  not  begin  with  your  little 
notes.     Get  into  bed  !" 

She  threw  at  me  a  very  naughty  look,  so  naughty  that  I 
would  not  kiss  her  good-night  at  first :  I  covered  her  up,  and 
shut  her  door,  in  great  displeasure — but,  repenting  half-way,  I 
returned  softly,  and  lo  !  there  was  Miss,  standing  at  the  table 
with  a  bit  of  blank  paper  before  her,  and  a  pencil  in  her  hand, 
which  she  guiltily  slipped  out  of  sight,  on  my  re-entrance. 

"  You'll  get  nobody  to  take  that,  Catherine,"  I  said,  "  if  you 
write  it ;  and  at  present  I  shall  put  out  your  candle." 

I  set  the  extinguisher  on  the  flame,  receiving  as  I  did  so,  a 
slap  on  the  hand,  and  a  petulant  "  cross  thing !"  I  then  quitted 
her  again,  and  she  drew  the  bolt  in  one  of  her  worst,  most 
peevish  humors. 

The  letter  was  finished,  and  forwarded  to  its  destination  by  a 
milk-fetcher  who  came  from  the  village,  but  that  I  didn't  learn 
till  some  time  afterwards.  Weeks  passed  on,  and  Cathy  recov- 
ered her  temper,  though  she  grew  wondrous  fond  of  stealing  off 


WUTHERING       HEIGHTS.  195 

to  corners  by  herself,  and  often,  if  I  came  near  her  suddenly 
while  reading,  she  would  start,  and  bend  over  the  book,  evidently- 
desirous  to  hide  it ;  and  I  detected  edges  of  loose  paper  stick- 
ing out  beyond  the  leaves. 

She  also  got  a  trick  of  coming  down  early  in  the  morning, 
and  lingering  about  the  kitchen,  as  if  she  were  expecting  the 
arrival  of  something ;  and  she  had  a  small  drawer  in  a  cabinet 
in  the  library  which  she  would  trifle  over  for  hours,  and  whose 
key  she  took  special  care  to  remove  when  she  left  it. 

One  day,  as  she  inspected  this  drawer,  I  observed  that  the 
playthings  and  trinkets  which  recently  formed  its  contents, 
were  transmuted  into  bits  of  folded  paper. 

My  curiosity  and  suspicions  were  roused ;  I  determined  to 
take  a  peep  at  her  mysterious  treasures  ;  so,  at  night,  as  soon 
as  she  and  my  master  were  safe  up-stairs,  I  searched  and 
readily  found  among  my  house  keys,  one  that  would  fit  the 
lock.  Having  opened,  I  emptied  the  whole  contents  into  my 
apron,  and  took  them  with  me  to  examine  at  leisure  in  my  own 
chamber. 

Though  I  could  not  but  suspect,  I  was  still  surprised  to  dis- 
cover that  they  were  a  mass  of  correspondence,  daily  almost,  it 
must  have  been,  from  Linton  Heathcliff,  answers  to  documents 
forwarded  by  her.  The  earlier  dated  were  embarrassed  and 
short;  gradually,  however,  they  expanded  into  copious  love 
letters,  foolish  as  the  age  of  the  writer  rendered  natural,  yet 
with  touches,  here  and  there,  which  I  thought  were  borrowed 
from  a  more  experienced  source. 

Some  of  them  struck  me  as  singularly  odd  compounds  of 
ardor  and  flatness  ;  commencing  in  strong  feeling,  and  conclud- 
ing in  the  affected,  wordy  way  that  a  schooi-boy  might  use  to  a 
fancied,  incorporeal  sweetheart.  Whether  they  satisfied  Cathy, 
T  don't  know,  but  they  appeared  very  worthless  trash  to  me. 
After  turning  over  as  many  as  I  thought  proper,  I  tied  them  in 
a  handkerchief,  and  set  them  aside,  re-locking  the  vacant  drawer. 

Following  her  habit,  my  young  lady  descended  early,  and 
visited  the  kitchen  :  I  watched  her  go  to  the  door,  on  the  arrival 
of  a  certain  little  boy ;  and,  while  the  dairy  maid  filled  his  can, 
she  tucked  something  into  his  jacket  pocket,  and  plucked  some- 
thing out.  I  went  round  by  the  garden,  and  laid  wait  for  the 
messenger ;  who  fought  valorously  to  defend  his  trust,  and  we 
spilled  the  milk  between  us ;  but  I  succeeded  in  abstracting  the 
epistle ;  and  threatening  serious  consequences  if  he  did  not  look 


196  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

sharp  home,  I  remained  under  the  wall,  and  perused  Miss 
Cathy's  affectionate  composition.  It  was  more  simple  and 
more  eloquent  than  her  cousin's,  very  pretty  and  very  silly.  I 
shook  my  head,  and  went  meditating  into  the  house. 

The  day  being  wet,  she  could  not  divert  herself  with  ram 
bling  about  the  park;  so,  at  the  conclusion  of  her  morning 
studies,  she  resorted  to  the  solace  of  the  drawer.  Her  father 
sat  reading  at,  the  table ;  and  I,  on  purpose,  had  sought  a  bit  of 
work  in  some  unripped  fringes  of  the  window  curtain,  keeping 
my  eye  steadily  fixed  on  her  proceedings. 

Never  did  any  bird  flying  back  to  a  plundered  nest  which  it 
had  left  brimful  of  chirping  young  ones,  express  more  com- 
plete despair  in  its  anguished  cries  and  flutterings,  than  she  by 
her  single  "Oh!"  and  the  change  that  transfigured  her  late 
happy  countenance.     Mr.  Linton  looked  up. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  love  1  Have  you  hurt  yourself  1"  he 
said. 

His  tone  and  look  assured  her  he  had  not  been  the  discoverer 
of  the  hoard. 

"  No  papa — "  she  gasped.  "  Ellen  !  Ellen  !  come  up-stairs 
—I'm  sick !" 

I  obeyed  her  summons,  and  accompanied  her  out. 

"Oh,  Ellen!  you  have  got  them,"  she  commenced  imme- 
diately, dropping  on  her  knees,  when  we  were  inclosed  alone. 
"  Oh,  give  them  to  me,  and  I'll  never  never  do  so  again  !  Don't 
tell  papa.  You  have  not  told  papa,  Ellen,  say  you  have  not ! 
I've  been  exceedingly  naughty,  but  I  won't  do  it  any  more !" 

With  a  grave  severity  in  my  manner,  I  bid  her  stand  up. 

"So,"  I  exclaimed,  "Miss  Catherine,  you  are  tolerably  far 
on,  it  seems — you  may  well  be  ashamed  of  them  !  A  fine  bun- 
dle of  trash  you  study  in  your  leisure  hours,  to  be  sure.  Why 
it's  good  enough  to  be  printed  !  And  what  do  you  suppose  the 
master  will  think,  when  I  display  it  before  him  *?  I  haven't 
shown  it  yet,  but  you  needn't  imagine  I  shall  keep  your  ridicu- 
lous secrets.  For  shame  !  And  you  must  have  led  the  way  in 
writing  such  absurdities ;  he  would  not  have  thought  of  begin- 
ning, I'm  certain." 

"I  didn't!  I  didn't !"  sobbed  Cathy,  fit  to  break  her  heart. 
"  I  didn't  once  think  of  loving  him  till — " 

"  Loving  /"  cried  I,  as  scornfully  as  I  could  utter  the  word. 
"  Loving  !  Did  any  body  ever  hear  the  like  !  I  might  just  as 
well  talk  of  loving  the  miller  who  comes  once  a  year  to  buy  our 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  197 

corn.  Pretty  loving,  indeed,  and  both  times  together  you  have 
seen  Linton  hardly  four  hours,  in  your  life !  Now  here  is  the 
babyish  trash.  I'm  going  with  it  to  the  library ;  and  we'll  see 
what  your  father  says  to  such  loving." 

She  sprang  at  her  precious  epistles,  but  I  held  them  above  my 
head ;  and  then  she  poured  out  further  frantic  entreaties  that  I 
would  burn  them — do  any  thing  rather  than  show  them.  And 
being  really  fully  as  inclined  to  laugh  as  scold,  for  I  esteemed 
it  all  girlish  vanity,  I  at  length,  relented  in  a  measure,  and 
asked, 

"  If  I  consent  to  burn  them,  will  you  promise  faithfully, 
neither  to  send,  nor  receive  a  letter  again,  nor  a  book — for  I 
perceive  you  have  sent  him  books — nor  locks  of  hair,  nor  rings, 
nor  playthings !" 

"  We  don't  send  playthings !"  cried  Catherine,  her  pride  over- 
coming her  shame. 

"  Nor  any  thing  at  all,  then,  my  lady  !"  I  said.  "  Unless  you 
will,  here  I  go." 

"  I  promise,  Ellen !"  she  cried,  catching  my  dress.  "  Oh,  put 
them  in  the  fire,  do,  do  !" 

But  when  I  proceeded  to  open  the  place  with  the  poker,  the 
sacrifice  was  too  painful  to  be  borne.  She  earnestly  supplicated 
that  I  would  spare  her  one  or  two. 

"  One  or  two,  Ellen,  to  keep  for  Linton's  sake !" 

I  unknotted  the  handkerchief,  and  commenced  dropping  them 
in  from  an  angle,  and  the  flame  curled  up  the  chimney. 

"  I  will  have  one,  you  cruel  wretch !"  she  screamed,  darting 
her  hand  into  the  fire,  and  drawing  forth  some  half-consumed 
fragments,  at  the  expense  of  her  fingers. 

"Very  well — and  I  will  have  some  to  exhibit  to  papa  !"  I 
answered,  shaking  back  the  rest  into  the  bundle,  and  turning 
anew  to  the  door. 

She  emptied  her  blackened  pieces  into  the  flames,  and  mo- 
tioned me  to  finish  the  immolation.  It  was  done ;  I  stirred  up 
the  ashes,  and  interred  them  under  a  shovelful  of  coals ;  and 
she  mutely,  and  with  a  sense  of  intense  injury,  retired  to  her 
private  apartment.  I  descended  to  tell  my  master  that  the 
young  lady's  qualm  of  sickness  was  almost  gone,  but  I  judged 
it  best  for  her  to  lie  down  a  while. 

She  wouldn't  dine  ;  but  she  re-appeared  at  tea,  pale  and  red 
about  the  eyes,  and  jnarvelously  subdued  in  outward  aspect. 

Next  morning  I  answered  the  letter  by  a  slip  of  paper  in- 


198  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

scribed,  "Master  Heathcliffis  requested  to  send  no  more  notes 
to  Miss  Linton,  as  she  will  not  receive  them."  And,  thence- 
forth the  little  boy  came  with  vacant  pockets. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Summer  drew  to  an  end,  and  early  autumn ;  it  was  past 
Michaelmas,  but  the  harvest  was  late  that  year,  and  a  few  of 
our  fields  were  still  uncleared.  Mr.  Linton  and  his  daughter 
would  frequently  walk  out  among  the  reapers  ;  at  the  carrying 
of  the  last  sheaves,  they  stayed  till  dusk,  and  the  evening  hap- 
pening to  be  chill  and  damp,  my  master  caught  a  bad  cold,  that, 
settling  obstinately  on  his  lungs,  confined  him  indoors  through- 
out the  whole  of  the  winter,  nearly  without  intermission. 

Poor  Cathy,  frightened  from  her  little  romance,  had  been 
considerably  sadder  and  duller  since  its  abandonment ;  and  her 
father  insisted  on  her  reading  less,  and  taking  more  exercise. 
She  had  his  companionship  no  longer ;  I  esteemed  it  a  duty  to 
supply  its  lack;  as  much  as  possible,  with  mine — an  inefficient 
substitute,  for  I  could  only  spare  two  or  three  hours,  from  my 
numerous  diurnal  occupations,  to  follow  her  footsteps,  and  then 
my  society  was  obviously  Jess  desirable  than  his. 

On  an  afternoon  in  October,  or  the  beginning  of  November, 
a  fresh  watery  afternoon,  when  the  turf  and  paths  were  rustling 
with  moist,  withered  leaves,  and  the  cold,  blue  sky  was  half 
hidden  by  clouds,  dark  gray  streamers,  rapidly  mounting  from 
the  west,  and  boding  abundant  rain,  I  requested  my  young  lady 
to  forego  her  ramble,  because  I  was  certain  of  showers.  She 
refused,  and  I  unwillingly  donned  a  cloak,  and  took  my  um- 
brella to  accompany  her  on  a  stroll  to  the  bottom  of  the  park— - 
a  formal  walk  which  she  generally  affected  if  low-spirited  ;  and 
that  she  invariably  was  when  Mr.  Edgar  had  been  worse  than 
ordinary — a  thing  never  known  from  his  confession,  but  guessed 
both  by  her  and  me  from  his  increased  silence,  and  the  melan- 
choly of  his  countenance. 

She  went  sadly  on  ;  there  was  no  running  or  bounding  now, 
though  the  chill  wind  might  well  have  tempted  her  to  a  race. 
And  often,  from  the  side  of  my  eye,  I  could  detect  her  raising  a 


WUTHERING       HEIGHTS.  199 

hand,  and  brushing  something  off  her  cheek.  I  gazed  round 
for  a  means  of  diverting  her  thoughts.  On  one  side  of  the  road 
rose  a  high,  rough  bank,  where  hazels  and  stunted  oaks,  with 
their  roots  half  exposed,  held  uncertain  tenure ;  the  soil  was 
too  loose  for  the  latter,  and  strong  winds  had  blown  some  nearly 
horizontal.  In  summer,  Miss  Catherine  delighted  to  climb  along 
these  trunks,  and  sit  in  the  branches,  swinging  twenty  feet  above 
the  ground ;  and  I,  pleased  with  her  agility,  and  her  light, 
childish  heart,  still  considered  it  proper  to  scold  every  time  I 
caught  her  at  such  an  elevation,  but  so  that  she  knew  there 
was  no  necessity  for  descending.  From  dinner  to  tea  she  would 
lie  in  her  breeze-rocked  cradle,  doing  nothing  except  singing 
old  songs — my  nursery  lore — to  herself,  or  watching  the  birds, 
joint  tenants,  feed  and  entice  their  young  ones  to  fly,  or  nestling 
with  closed  lids,  half  thinking,  half  dreaming,  happier  than 
words  can  express. 

"  Look,  miss  !"  I  exclaimed,  pointing  to  a  nook  under  the 
roots  of  one  twisted  tree  ;  "  winter  is  not  here  yet.  There's  a 
little  flower  up  yonder,  the  last  bud  from  the  multitude  of  blue- 
bells that  clouded  those  turf  steps  in  July  with  a  lilac  mist. 
Will  you  clamber  up,  and  pluck  it  to  show  to  papa  V 

Cathy  stared  a  long  time  at  the  lonely  blossom  trembling  in 
its  earthy  shelter,  and  replied  at  length — 

"  No,  I'll  not  touch  it ;  but  it  looks  melancholy,  does  it  not, 
Ellen  r 

"  Yes,"  I  observed,  "  about  as  starved  and  sackless  as  you — 
your  cheeks  are  bloodless ;  let  us  take  hold  of  hands  and  run. 
You're  so  slow,  I  dare  say  I  shall  keep  up  with  you." 

"  No,"  she  repeated,  and  continued  sauntering  on,  pausing  at 
intervals  to  muse  over  a  bit  of  moss,  or  a  tuft  of  blanched  grass, 
or  a  fungus  spreading  its  bright  orange  among  the  heaps  of 
brown  foliage  ;  and,  ever  and  anon,  her  hand  was  lifted  to  her 
averted  face. 

"  Catherine,  why  are  you  crying,  love  V1  I  asked,  approach- 
ing and  putting  my  arm  over  her  shoulder.  "  You  must'nt 
cry  because  papa  has  a  cold  ;  be  thankful  that  it  is  nothing 
worse." 

She  now  put  no  further  restraint  on  her  tears ;  her  breath 
was  stifled  by  sobs. 

"  Oh,  it  will  be  something  worse,"  she  said.  "  And  what  shall 
I  do  when  papa  and  you  leave  me,  and  I  am  by  myself]  I 
can't  forget  your  words,  Ellen,  they  are  always  in  my  ear. 


200  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

How  life  will  be  changed,  how  dreary  the  world  will  be,  when 
papa  and  you  are  dead  !" 

"  None  can  tell  whether  you  won't  die  before  us,"  I  replied. 
"  It's  wrong  to  anticipate  evil — we'll  hope  there  are  years  and 
years  to  come  before  any  of  us  go  ;  master  is  young,  and  I  am 
strong,  and  hardly  forty-five.  My  mother  lived  till  eighty,  a 
canty  dame  to  the  last.  And  suppose  Mr.  Linton  were  spared 
till  he  saw  sixty,  that  would  be  more  years  than  you  have 
counted,  miss.  And  would  it  not  be  foolish  to  mourn  a  calamity 
above  twenty  years  beforehand  V 

"  But  aunt  Isabella  was  younger  than  papa,"  she  remarked, 
gazing  up  with  timid  hope  to  seek  further  consolation. 

"  Aunt  Isabella  had  not  you  and  me  to  nurse  her,"  I  replied. 
"  She  wasn't  as  happy  as  master ;  she  hadn't  as  much  to  live 
for.  All  you  need  do  is  to  wait  well  on  your  father,  and  cheer 
him  by  letting  him  see  you  cheerful ;  and  avoid  giving  him  anx- 
iety on  any  subject — mind  that,  Cathy !  I'll  not  disguise  but 
you  might  kill  him,  if  you  were  wild  and  reckless,  and  cherish- 
ed a  foolish,  fanciful  affection  for  the  son  of  a  person  who  would 
be  glad  to  have  him  in  his  grave,  and  allowed  him  to  discover 
that  you  fretted  over  the  separation  he  has  judged  it  expedient 
to  make." 

"  I  fret  about  nothing  on  earth  except  papa's  illness,"  answer- 
ed my  companion.  "I  care  for  nothing  in  comparison  with 
papa.  And  I'll  never — never — Oh,  never,  while  I  have  my 
senses,  do  an  act,  or  say  a  word  to  vex  him.  I  love  him  better 
than  myself,  Ellen ;  and  I  know  it  by  this — I  pray  every  night 
that  I  may  live  after  him  ;  because  I  would  rather  be  miserable 
than  that  he  should  be — that  proves  I  love  him  better  than  my- 
self." 

"  G-ood  words,"  I  replied.  "  But  deeds  must  prove  it  also ; 
and  after  he  is  well,  remember  you  don't  forget  resolutions 
formed  in  the  hour  of  fear." 

As  we  talked,  we  neared  a  door  that  opened  on  the  road  ;  and 
my  young  lady,  lightening  into  sunshine  again,  climbed  up,  and 
seated  herself  on  the  top  of  the  wall,  reaching  over  to  gather 
some  hips  that  bloomed  scarlet  on  the  summit  branches  of  the 
wild  rose  trees,  shadowing  the  highway  side ;  the  lower  fruit 
had  disappeared,  but  only  birds  could  touch  the  upper,  except 
from  Cathy's  present  station. 

In  stretching  to  pull  them,  her  hat  fell  off;  and  as  the  door 
was  locked,  she  proposed  scrambling  down  to  recover  it.     I  bid 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  201 

her  be  cautious  lest  she  got  a  fall,  and  she  nimbly  disap- 
peared. 

But  the  return  was  no  such  easy  matter;  the  stones  were 
smooth  and  neatly  cemented,  and  the  rosebushes  and  blackberry 
stragglers  could  yield  no  assistance  in  re-ascending.  I,  like  a 
fool,  didn't  recollect  that  till  I  heard  her  laughing,  and  exclaim- 
ing— 

"  Ellen  !  you'll  have  to  fetch  the  key,  or  else  I  must  run  round 
to  the  porter's  lodge.     I  can't  scale  the  ramparts  on  this  side  !" 

"  Stay  where  you  are,"  I  answered ;  "  I  have  my  bundle  of 
keys  in  my  pocket ;  perhaps  I  may  manage  to  open  it ;  if  not, 
I'll  go."    ■ 

Catherine  amused  herself  with  dancing  to  and  fro  before  the 
door,  while  I  tried  all  the  large  keys  in  succession.  I  had  ap- 
plied the  last,  and  found  that  none  would  do ;  so,  repeating  my 
desire  that  she  would  remain  there,  I  was  about  to  hurry  home 
as  fast  as  I  could,  when  an  approaching  sound  arrested  me.  It 
was  the  trot  of  a  horse ;  Cathy's  dance  stopped,  and  in  a  minute 
the  horse  stopped  also. 

"  Who  is  that  ]"  I  whispered. 

"  Ellen,  I  wish  you  could  open  the  door,"  whispered  back  my 
companion,  anxiously. 

"  Ho,  Miss  Linton  V  cried  a  deep  voice  (the  rider's).  "  I'm 
glad  to  meet  you.  Don't  be  in  haste  to  enter,  for  I  have  an  ex- 
planation to  ask  and  obtain." 

"  I  shan't  speak  to  you,  Mr.  Heathcliff!"  answered  Catherine. 
"  Papa  says  you  are  a  wicked  man,  and  you  hate  both  him  and 
me  ;  and  Ellen  says  the  same." 

"  That  is  nothing  to  the  purpose,"  said  Heathcliff.  (He  it 
was.)  "  I  don't  hate  my  son,  I  suppose,  and  it  is  concerning 
him  that  I  demand  your  attention.  Yes !  you  have  cause  to 
blush.  Two  or  three  months  since,  were  you  not  in  the  habit 
of  writing  to  Linton  ] — making  love  in  play,  eh  1  You  deserved, 
both  of  you,  flogging  for  that !  You  especially,  the  elder,  and 
less  sensitive,  as  it  turns  out.  I've  got  your  letters,  and  if  you 
give  me  any  pertness,  I'll  send  them  to  your  father.  I  presume 
you  grew  weary  of  the  amusement,  and  dropped  it,  didn't  you  ? 
Well,  you  dropped  Linton  with  it,  into  a  Slough  of  Despond. 
He  was  in  earnest — in  love — really.  As  true  as  I  live,  he's 
dying  for  you — breaking  his  heart  at  your  fickleness,  not  figura- 
tively, but  actually.  Though  Hareton  has  made  him  a  standing 
jest  for  six  weeks,  and  I  have  used  more  serious  measures,  and 

i* 


202  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

attempted  to  frighten  him  out  of  his  idiocy,  he  gets  worse  daily, 
and  he'll  be  under  the  sod  before  summer,  unless  you  restore 
him!" 

"  How  can  you  lie  so  glaringly  to  the  poor  child !"  I  called 
from  the  inside.  "  Pray  ride  on  !  How  can  you  deliberately 
get  up  such  paltry  falsehoods  1  Miss  Cathy,  I'll  knock  the  lock 
off  with  a  stone.  You  won't  believe  that  vile  nonsense.  You 
can  feel  in  yourself,  it  is  impossible  that  a  person  should  die  for 
love  of  a  stranger." 

"  I  was  not  aware  there  were  eaves-droppers,"  muttered  the 
detected  villain.  "  Worthy  Mrs.  Dean,  I  like  you,  but  I  don't 
like  your  double  dealing,"  he  added,  aloud.  "  How  could  you 
lie  so  glaringly  as  to  affirm  I  hated  the  '  poor  child  V  And  in- 
vent bugbear  stories  to  terrify  her  from  my  door-stones  1  Cath- 
erine Linton  (the  very  name  warms  me),  my  bonny  lass,  I  shall 
be  from  home  all  this  week — go  and  see  if  I  have  not  spoken 
truth ;  do — there's  a  darling  !  Just  imagine  your  father  in  my 
place,  and  Linton  in  yours;  then  think  how  you  would  value 
your  careless  lover,  if  he  refused  to  stir  a  step  to  comfort  you, 
when  your  father  himself  entreated  him ;  and  don't,  from  pure 
stupidity,  fall  into  the  same  error.  I  swear,  on  my  salvation, 
he's  going  to  his  grave,  and  none  but  you  can  save  him  !" 

The  lock  gave  way,  and  I  issued  out. 

"  I  swear  Linton  is  dying,"  repeated  Heathcliff,  looking  hard 
at  me.  "  And  grief  and  disappointment  are  hastening  his  death. 
Nelly,  if  you  won't  let  her  go,  you  can  walk  over  yourself.  But 
I  shall  not  return  till  this  time  next  week ;  and  I  think  your 
master  himself  would  scarcely  object  to  her  visiting  her  cousin  !" 

"  Come  in,"  said  I  taking  Cathy  by  the  arm,  and  half  forcing 
her  to  re-enter,  for  she  lingered,  viewing,  with  troubled  eyes, 
the  features  of  the  speaker,  too  stern  to  express  his  inward 
deceit. 

He  pushed  his  horse  close,  and,  bending  down,  observed — 

"  Miss  Catherine,  I'll  own  to  you  that  I  have  little  patience 
with  Linton,  and  Hareton  and  Joseph  have  less.  I'll  own  that 
he's  with  a  harsh  set.  He  pines  for  kindness  as  well  as  love, 
and  a  kind  word  from  you  would  be  his  best  medicine.  Don't 
mind  Mrs.  Dean's  cruel  cautions,  but  be  generous,  and  contrive 
to  see  him.  He  dreams  of  you  day  and  night,  and  can  not  be 
persuaded  that  you  don't  hate  him,  since  you  neither  write  nor 
call." 

I  closed  the  door,  and  rolled  a  stone  to  assist  the  loosened  lock 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  203 

in  holding  it ;  and  spreading  my  umbrella,  I  drew  my  charge 
underneath,  for  the  rain  began  to  drive  through  the  moaning 
branches  of  the  trees,  and  warned  us  to  avoid  delay. 

Our  hurry  prevented  any  comment  on  the  encounter  with 
Heath  cliff,  as  we  stretched  toward  home  ;  but  I  divined  instinct- 
ively that  Catherine's  heart  was  clouded  now  in  double  dark- 
ness. Her  features  were  so  sad,  they  did  not  seem  hers :  she 
evidently  regarded  what  she  had  heard  as  every  syllable  true. 

The  master  had  retired  to  rest  before  we  came  in.     Cathy  t 
stole  to  his  room  to  inquire  how  he  was ;  he  had  fallen  asleep. 
She  returned,  and  asked  me  to  sit  with  her  in  the  library.     We 
took  our  tea  together ;  and  afterward  she  lay  down  on  the  rug, 
and  told  me  not  to  talk,  for  she  was  weary. 

I  got  a  book,  and  pretended  to  read.  As  soon  as  she  sup- 
posed me  absorbed  in  my  occupation,  she  recommenced  her 
silent  weeping :  it  appeared,  at  present,  her  favorite  diversion. 
I  suffered  her  to  enjoy  it  a  while  ;  then  I  expostulated,  deriding 
and  ridiculing  all  Mr.  Heathcliff's  assertions  about  his  son,  as 
if  I  were  certain  she  would  coincide.  Alas  !  I  hadn't  skill  to 
counteract  the  effect  his  account  had  produced — it  was  just  what 
he  intended. 

"  You  may  be  right,  Ellen,"  she  answered  ;  "  but  I  shall  never 
feel  at  ease  till  I  know — and  I  must  tell  Linton  it  is  not  my  fault 
that  I  don't  write,  and  convince  him  that  I  shall  not  change." 

What  use  were  anger  and  protestations  against  her  silly  cre- 
dulity 1  We  parted  that  night  hostile ;  but  next  day  beheld  me 
on  the  road  to  Wuthering  Heights,  by  the  side  of  my  willful 
young  mistress's  pony,  I  couldn't  bear  to  witness  her  sorrow 
— to  see  her  pale,  dejected  countenance  and  heavy  eyes — and  I 
yielded  in  the  faint  hope  that  Linton  himself  might  prove,  by 
his  reception  of  us,  how  little  of  the  tale  was  founded  on  fact. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

The  rainy  night  had  ushered  in  a  misty  morning — half  frost, 
half  drizzle — and  temporary  brooks  crossed  our  path,  gurgling 
from  the  uplands.  My  feet  were  thoroughly  wetted  ;  I  was 
cross  and  low,  exactly  the  humor  suited  for  making  the  most  of 
these  disagreeable  things.     We  entered  the  farmhouse  by  the 


204  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

kitchen  way,  to  ascertain  whether  Mr.  Heathcliff  were  really 
absent,  because  I  put  slight  faith  in  his  own  affirmation. 

Joseph  seemed  sitting  alone,  in  a  sort  of  elysium,  beside  a 
roaring  fire,  a  quart  of  ale  on  the  table  near  him,  bristling  with 
large  pieces  of  toasted  oat  cake,  and  his  black,  short  pipe  in  his 
mouth.  Catherine  ran  to  the  hearth  to  warm  herself.  I  asked 
if  the  master  were  in  1  My  question  remained  so  long  unan- 
swered, that  I  thought  the  old  man  had  grown  deaf,  and  I  re- 
peated it  louder. 

"  Na — ay  !"  he  snarled,  or  rather  screamed  through  his  nose. 
"  Na — ay  !  yah  muh  goa  back  whear  yah  coom  frough.'* 

"  Joseph,"  cried  a  peevish  voice,  simultaneously  with  me,  from 
the  inner  room,  "  how  often  am  1  to  call  you  1  There  are  only 
a  few  red  ashes  now.     Joseph  !  come  this  moment." 

Vigorous  puffs,  and  a  resolute  stare  into  the  grate  declared 
he  had  no  ear  for  this  appeal.  The  housekeeper  and  Hareton 
were  invisible — one  gone  on  an  errand,  and  the  other  at  his 
work,  probably.     We  knew  Linton's  tones,  and  entered. 

"  Oh,  I  hope  you'll  die  in  a  garret,  starved  to  death !"  said 
the  boy,  mistaking  our  approach  for  that  of  his  negligent  at- 
tendant. 

He  stopped  on  observing  his  error  ;  his  cousin  flew  to  him. 
"  Is  that  you,  Miss  Linton  V  he  said,  raising  his  head  from 
the  arm  of  the  great  chair  in  which  he  reclined.  "  No — don't 
kiss  me.  It  takes  my  breath — dear  me  !  Papa  said  you  would 
call,"  continued  he,  after  recovering  a  little  from  Catherine's 
embrace,  while  she  stood  by,  looking  very  contrite.  "  Will 
you  shut  the  door,  if  you  please  1 — you  left  it  open,  and  those — 
those  detestable  creatures  won't  bring  coals  to  the  fire.  It's  so 
cold !" 

I  stirred  up  the  cinders,  and  fetched  a  scuttleful  myself.  The 
invalid  complained  of  being  covered  with  ashes ;  but  he  had  a 
tiresome  cough,  and  looked  feverish  and  ill,  so  I  did  not  rebuke 
his  temper. 

"  Well,  Linton,"  murmured  Catherine,  when  his  corrugated 
brow  relaxed.  "  Are  you  glad  to  see  me  ]  Can  I  do  you  anv 
good?"  * 

'*  Why  didn't  you  come  before  V*  he  said.  "  You  should  have 
come,  instead  of  writing.  It  tired  me  dreadfully  writing  those 
long  letters.  I'd  far  rather  have  talked  to  you.  Now,  I  can 
neither  bear  to  talk,  nor  any  thing  else.  I  wonder  where  Zillah 
is  !     Will  you  (looking  at  me)  step  into  the  kitchen  and  see  1" 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  205 

I  had  received  no  thanks  for  my  other  service ;  and  being  un- 
willing to  run  to  and  fro  at  his  behest,  I  replied — 

"  Nobody  is  out  there  but  Joseph." 

"  I  want  to  drink,"  he  exclaimed,  fretfully  turning  away. 
"  Zillah  is  constantly  gadding  off  to  Grimmerton  since  papa  went. 
It's  miserable  !  And  I'm  obliged  to  come  down  here — they 
resolved  never  to  hear  me  up  stairs." 

"  Is  your  father  attentive  to  you,  Master  Heathcliff  V  I  asked, 
perceiving  Catherine  to  be  checked  in  her  friendly  advances. 

"  Attentive  %  He  makes  them  a  little  more  attentive,  at  least," 
he  cried.  "  The  wretches !  Do  you  know,  Miss  Linton,  that 
brute  Hareton  laughs  at  me  1  I  hate  him — indeed,  I  hate  them 
all — they  are  odious  beings." 

Cathy  began  searching  for  some  water;  she  lighted  on  a 
pitcher  in  the  dresser,  filled  a  tumbler,  and  brought  it.  He  bid 
her  add  a  spoonful  of  wine  from  a  bottle  on  the  table ;  and,  hav- 
ing swallowed  a  small  portion,  appeared  more  tranquil,  and  said 
she  was  very  kind. 

"  And  are  you  glad  to  see  me  V  asked  she,  reiterating  her 
*brmer  question,  and  pleased  to  detect  the  faint  dawn  of  a  smile. 

"  Yes,  I  am.  It's  something  new  to  hear  a  voice  like  yours !" 
he  replied,  "  but  I  have  been  vexed,  because  you  wouldn't  come. 
And  papa  swore  it  was  owing  to  me ;  he  called  me  a  pitiful, 
shuffling,  worthless  thing,  and  said  you  despised  me ;  and  if  he 
had  been  in  my  place  he  would  be  more  the  master  of  the 
Grange  than  your  father  by  this  time.  But  you  don't  despise 
me,  do  you  Miss — " 

"I  wish  you  would  say  Catherine,  or  Cathy!"  interrupted  my 
young  lady.  "  Despise  you  1  No  !  Next  to  papa,  and  Ellen, 
I  love  you  better  than  any  body  living.  I  don't  love  Mr.  Heath- 
cliff,  though ;  and  I  dare  not  come  when  he  returns ;  will  he  stay 
away  many  days  1" 

"  Not  many  :■"  answered  Linton,  but  he  goes  to  the  moors 
frequently,  since  the  shooting  season  commenced,  and  you  might 
spend  an  hour  or  two  with  me  in  his  absence.  Do  say  you  will ! 
I  think  I  should  not  be  peevish  with  you ;  you'd  not  provoke 
me,  and  you'd  always  be  ready  to  help  me,  wouldn't  you  V 

"  Yes,"  said  Catherine,  stroking  his  long,  soft  hair ;  "  if  I  could 
only  get  papa's  consent,  I'd  spend  half  my  time  with  you.  Pretty 
Linton  !  I  wish  you  were  my  brother !" 

"  And  then  you  would  like  me  as  well  as  your  father  V'  ob- 
served he  more  cheerfully.     "  But  papa  says  you  would  love  me 


206  W  U  T  H  E  R  I  N  G      HEIGHT  S. 

better  than  him  and  all  the  world,  if  you  were  my  wife — so  I'd 
rather  you  were  that !" 

"No!  I  should  never  love  any  body  better  than  papa,"  she 
returned  gravely.  "  And  people  hate  their  wives,  sometimes ; 
but  not  their  sisters  and  brothers,  and  if  you  were  the  latter,  you 
would  live  with  us,  and  papa  would  be  as  fond  of  you,  as  he  is 
of  me." 

Linton  denied  that  people  ever  hated  their  wives  ;  but  Cathy 
affirmed  they  did,  and  in  her  wisdom,  instanced  his  own  father's 
aversion  to  her  aunt.  I  endeavored  to  stop  her  thoughtless 
tongue.  I  couldn't  succeed,  till  every  thing  she  knew  was  out. 
Master  Heathcliff,  much  irritated,  asserted  her  relation  was  false. 

"  Papa  told  me ;  and  papa  does  not  tell  falsehoods  !"  she  an- 
swered, pertly. 

"  My  papa  scorns  yours!"  cried  Linton.  "He  calls  him  a 
sneaking  fool !" 

"  Yours  is  a  wicked  man,"  retorted  Catherine,  "  and  you  are 
very  naughty  to  dare  to  repeat  what  he  says.  He  must  be 
wicked,  to  have  made  aunt  Isabella  leave  him  as  she  did !" 

"She  didn't  leave  him,"  said  the  boy.  "You  shan't  contra- 
dict me!" 

"  She  did  !"  cried  my  young  lady. 

"  Well  I'll  tell  you  something  !"  said  Linton.  "  Your  mother 
hated  your  father;  now  then." 

"  Oh  !"  exclaimed  Catherine,  too  enraged  to  continue. 

"  And  she  loved  mine  !"  added  he. 

"  You  little  liar !  I  hate  you  now,"  she  panted,  and  her  face 
grew  red  with  passion. 

"  She  did  !  she  did !"  sang  Linton,  sinking  into  the  recess  of 
his  chair,  and  leaning  back  his  head  to  enjoy  the  agitation  of  the 
other  disputant,  who  stood  behind. 

"  Hush,  Master  Heathcliff!"  I  said,  "  that's  your  father's  tale 
too,  I  suppose." 

"It  isn't — you  hold  your  tongue!"  he  answered,  "she  did, 
she  did,  Catherine,  she  did,  she  did !" 

Cathy,  beside  herself,  gave  the  chair  a  violent  push,  and 
caused  him  to  fall  against  one  arm.  He  was  immediately  seized 
by  a  suffocating  cough,  that  soon  ended  his  triumph.  It  lasted 
so  long  that  it  frightened  even  me.  As  to  his  cousin,  she  wept 
with  all  her  might,  aghast  at  the  mischief  she  had  done,  though 
she  said  nothing.  I  held  him  till  the  fit  exhausted  itself.  Then 
he  thrust  me  away,  and  leaned  his  head  down,  silently.    Cathe- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  207 

rine  quelled  her  lamentations  also,  took  a  seat  opposite,  and 
looked  solemnly  into  the  fire. 

"  How  do  you  feel  now,  Master  HeathclhT,"  I  inquired,  after 
waiting  ten  minutes. 

"  I  wish  she  felt  as  I  do,"  he  replied,  "  spiteful,  cruel  thing ! 
Hareton  never  touches  me,  he  never  struck  me  in  his  life.  And 
I  was  better  to-day — and  there" —  his  voice  died  in  a  whimper. 

"J  didn't  strike  you!"  muttered  Cathy,  chewing  her  lip  to 
prevent  another  burst  of  emotion. 

He  sighed  and  moaned  like  one  under  great  suffering ;  and 
kept  it  up  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  on  purpose  to  distress  his 
cousin,  apparently,  for  whenever  he  caught  a  stifled  sob  from 
her,  he  put  renewed  pain  and  pathos  into  the  inflections  of  his 
voice. 

"  I'm  sorry  I  hurt  you,  Linton !"  she  said  at  length,  racked 
beyond  endurance.  "  But  I  couldn't  have  been  hurt  by  that 
little  push;  and  I  had  no  idea  that  you  could,  either — you're 
not  much,  are  you,  Linton  ]  Don't  let  me  go  home,  thinking 
I've  done  you  harm!  answer,  speak  to  me." 

"  I  can't  speak  to  you,"  he  murmured,  "  you've  hurt  me  so 
that  I  shall  lie  awake  all  night,  choking  with  this  cough.  If  you 
had  it  you'd  know  what  it  was — but  you'll  be  comfortably 
asleep,  while  I'm  in  agony — and  nobody  near  me  !  I  wonder 
how  you  would  like  to  pass  those  fearful  nights  !"  And  he  be- 
gan to  wail  aloud  for  very  pity  of  himself. 

"  Since  you  are  in  the  habit  of  passing  dreadful  nights,"  I 
said,  "  it  won't  be  Miss  who  spoils  your  ease ;  you'd  be  the 
same,  had  she  never  come.  However,  she  shall  not  disturb  you 
again — and  perhaps  you'll  get  quieter  when  we  leave  you." 

"  Must  I  go  ?"  asked  Catherine  dolefully,  bending  over  him. 
"  Do  you  want  me  to  go,  Linton  V 

"  You  can't  alter  what  you've  done  ?"  he  replied  pettishly, 
shrinking  from  her,  "  unless  you  alter  it  for  the  worse,  by  teas- 
ing me  into  a  fever !" 

"  Well,  then  I  must  go  V  she  repeated. 

"  Let  me  alone,  at  least,"  said  he ;  "I  can't  bear  your  talk 
ing!" 

She  lingered,  and  resisted  my  persuasions  to  departure,  a 
tiresome  while,  but  as  he  neither  looked  up  nor  spoke,  she 
finally  made  a  movement  to  the  door,  and  I  followed.  We 
were  recalled  by  a  scream.  Linton  had  slid  from  his  seat  upon 
the  hearthstone,  and  lay  writhing  in  the  mere  perverseness  of  an 


208  WUTH  BRING     HEIGHTS. 

indulged  plague  of  a  child,  determined  to  be  as  grievous  and 
harassing  as  it  can.  I  thoroughly  gauged  his  disposition  from 
his  behavior,  and  saw  at  once  it  would  be  folly  to  attempt  hu- 
moring him.  Not  so  my  companion,  she  ran  back  in  terror, 
knelt  down,  and  cried,  and  soothed,  and  entreated,  till  he  grew 
quiet  from  lack  of  breath,  by  no  means  from  compunction  at 
distressing  her. 

"I  shall  lift  him  upon  the  settle,"  I  said,  "and  he  may  loll 
about  as  he  pleases  ;  we  can't  stop  to  watch  him.  I  hope  you 
are  satisfied,  Miss  Cathy,  that  you  are  not  the  person  to  benefit 
him,  and  that  his  condition  of  health  is  not  occasioned  by  at- 
tachment to  you.  Now  then,  there  he  is !  Come  away ;  as 
soon  as  he  knows  there  is  nobody  by  to  care  for  his  nonsense, 
he'll  be  glad  to  lie  still !" 

She  placed  a  cushion  under  his  head,  and  offered  him  some 
water,  he  rejected  the  latter,  and  tossed  uneasily  on  the  former, 
as  if  it  were  a  stone,  or  a  block  of  wood.  She  tried  to  put  it 
more  comfortably. 

"  I  can't  do  with  that,"  he  said,  "  it's  not  high  enough  !" 

Catherine  brought  another  to  lay  above  it. 

"  That's  too  high  !"  murmured  the  provoking  thing. 

"  How  must  I  arrange  it,  then  V  she  asked,  despairingly. 

He  twined  himself  up  to  her,  as  she  half  knelt  by  the  settle, 
and  converted  her  shoulder  into  a  support. 

"  No,  that  won't  do  !"  I  said.  "  You'll  be  content  with  the 
cushion,  Master  Heathcliff !  Miss  has  wasted  too  much  time 
on  you  already ;  we  can  not  remain  five  minutes  longer." 

"  Yes,  yes,  we  can  !"  replied  Cathy.  "  He's  good  and  pa- 
tient, now.  He's  beginning  to  think  I  shall  have  far  greater 
misery  than  he  will,  to-night,  if  I  believe  he  is  the  worse  for  my 
visit ;  and  then  I  dare  not  come  again.  Tell  the  truth  about  it, 
Linton — for  I  mustn't  come  if  I  have  hurt  you." 

"  You  must  come  to  cure  me,"  he  answered.  "  You  ought 
to  come  because  you  have  hurt  me.  You  know  you  have,  ex- 
tremely !  I  was  not  as  ill  when  you  entered  as  I  am  at  present 
—was  1 V 

"  But  you've  made  yourself  ill  by  crying,  and  being  in  a  pas- 
sion." 

"  I  didn't  do  it  all,"  said  his  cousin.  "  However,  we'll  be 
friends  now.  And  you  want  me — you  would  wish  to  see  me 
sometimes,  really  ?" 

"  I  told  you  I  did  !"  he  replied  impatiently.     "  Sit  on  the  set- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  209 

tie,  and  let  me  lean  on  your  knee.  That's  as  mamma  used  to 
do,  whole  afternoons  together.  Sit  quite  still,  and  don't  talk, 
but  you  may  sing  a  song  if  you  can  sing,  or  you  may  say  a  nice 
long  interesting  ballad — one  of  those  you  promised  to  teach 
me,  or  a  story — I'd  rather  have  a  ballad  though  ;  begin." 

Catherine  repeated  the  longest  she  could  remember.  The 
employment  pleased  both  mightily.  Linton  would  have  another, 
and  after  that  another,  notwithstanding  my  strenuous  objections  ; 
and  so  they  went  on  until  the  clock  struck  twelve,  and  we  heard 
Hareton  in  the  court,  returning  for  his  dinner. 

"  And  to-morrow,  Catherine ;  will  you  be  here  to-morrow  V* 
asked  young  Heathcliff,  holding  her  frock,  as  she  rose  reluc- 
tantly. 

"  No  !"  I  answered,  "  nor  next  day  neither."  She,  however, 
gave  a  different  response,  evidently,  for  his  forehead  cleared,  as 
she  stooped,  and  whispered  in  his  ear. 

"  You  won't  go  to-morrow,  recollect,  Miss!"  I  commenced, 
when  we  were  out  of  the  house.  "  You  are  not  dreaming  of  it, 
are  you  V 

She  smiled. 

"  Oh,  I'll  take  good  care  !"  I  continued,  "  I'll  have  that  lock 
mended,  and  you  can  escape  by  no  way  else." 

"  I  can  get  over  the  wall,"  she  said,  laughing.  "  The  Grange 
is  not  a  prison,  Ellen,  and  you  are  not  my  jailer.  And  besides, 
I'm  almost  seventeen.  I'm  a  woman — and  I'm  certain  Linton 
would  recover  quickly  if  he  had  me  to  look  after  him.  I'm 
older  than  he  is,  you  know,  and  wiser,  less  childish,  am  I  not  ? 
And  he'll  soon  do  as  I  direct  him,  with  some  slight  coaxing. 
He's  a  pretty  little  darling  when  he's  good.  I'd  make  such  a 
pet  of  him,  if  he  were  mine.  We  should  never  quarrel,  should 
we,  after  we  were  used  to  each  other]  Don't  you  like  him, 
Ellen  ]" 

"  Like  him  V'  I  exclaimed.  "  The  worst  tempered  bit  of  a 
sickly  slip  that  ever  struggled  into  its  teens !  Happily,  as  Mr. 
Heathcliff  conjectured,  he'll  not  win  twenty  !  I  doubt  whether 
he'll  see  spring  indeed — and  small  loss  to  his  family,  whenever 
he  drops  off;  and  lucky  it  is  for  us  that  his  father  took  him. 
The  kinder  he  was  treated,  the  more  tedious  and  selfish  he'd 
be  !  I'm  glad  you  have  no  chance  of  having  him  for  a  husband 
Miss  Catherine !" 

My  companion  waxed  serious  at  hearing  this  speech.  To 
speak  of  his  death  so  regardlessly  wounded  her  feelings. 


210  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  He's  younger  than  I,"  she  answered,  after  a  protracied 
pause  of  meditation,  "  and  he  ought  to  live  the  longest,  he  will — 
he  must  live  as  long  as  I  do.  He's  as  strong  now  as  when  he 
first  came  into  the  north,  I'm  positive  of  that !  It's  only  a  cold 
that  ails  him,  the  same  as  papa  has.  You  say  papa  will  get 
better,  and  why  shouldn't  he  V' 

"  Well,  well,"  I  cried,  "  after  all,  we  needn't  trouble  our- 
selves ;  for  listen,  Miss,  and  mind,  I'll  keep  my  word.  If  you 
attempt  going  to  Wuthering  Heights  again,  with,  or  without 
me,  I  shall  inform  Mr.  Linton,  and  unless  he  allow  it,  the  inti- 
macy with  your  cousin  must  not  be  revived." 

"  It  has  been  revived  !"  muttered  Cathy,  sulkily. 

"  Must  not  be  continued,  then  ]"  I  said. 

"  We'll  see  !"  was  her  reply,  and  she  set  off  at  a  gallop,  leav- 
ing me  to  toil  in  the  rear. 

We  both  reached  home  before  our  dinner-time;  my  mas- 
ter supposed  we  had  been  wandering  through  the  park,  and 
therefore  he  demanded  no  explanation  of  our  absence.  As 
soon  as  I  entered,  I  hastened  to  change  my  soaked  shoes  and 
stockings  ;  but  sitting  such  a  while  at  the  Heights,  had  done 
the  mischief.  On  the  succeeding  morning  I  was  laid  up  ;  and 
during  three  weeks  I  remained  incapacitated  for  attending  to 
my  duties — a  calamity  never  experienced  prior  to  that  period, 
and  never,  I  am  thankful  to  say,  since. 

My  little  mistress  behaved  like  an  angel  in  coming  to  wait 
on  me,  and  cheer  my  solitude ;  the  confinement  brought  me 
exceedingly  low.  It  is  wearisome  to  a  stirring  active  body — 
but  few  have  slighter  reasons  for  complaint  than  I  had.  The 
moment  Catherine  left  Mr.  Linton's  room,  she  appeared  at  my 
bedside.  Her  day  was  divided  between  us;  no  amusement 
usurped  a  minute  ;  she  neglected  her  meals,  her  studies,  and 
her  play ;  and  she  was  the  fondest  nurse  that  ever  watched ; 
she  must  have  had  a  warm  heart,  when  she  loved  her  father 
so,  to  give  so  much  to  me !  I  said  her  days  were  divided  be- 
tween us ;  but  the  master  retired  early,  and  I  generally  needed 
nothing  after  six  o'clock,  thus  her  evening  was  her  own. 

Poor  thing,  I  never  considered  what  she  did  with  herself 
after  tea.  And  though  frequently,  when  she  looked  in  to  bid 
me  good  night  I  remarked  a  fresh  color  in  her  cheeks,  and  a 
pinkness  over  her  slender  fingers ;  instead  of  fancying  the  hue 
borrowed  from  a  cold  ride  across  the  moors,  I  laid  it  to  tho 
charge  of  a  hot  fire  in  the  library. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

At  the  close  of  three  weeks,  I  was  able  to  quit  my  chamber, 
and  move  about  the  house.  And  on  the  first  occasion  of  my  sit- 
ting up  in  the  evening,  I  asked  Catherine  to  read  to  me,  because 
my  eyes  were  weak.  We  were  in  the  library,  the  master 
having  gone  to  bed ;  she  consented,  rather  unwillingly,  I  fan- 
cied ;  and  imagining  my  sort  of  books  did  not  suit  her,  I  bid 
her  please  herself  in  the  choice  of  what  she  perused. 

She  selected  one  of  her  own  favorites,  and  got  forward  stead- 
ily about  an  hour  ;  then  came  frequent  questions. 

"  Ellen,  are  you  not  tired  ]  Hadn't  you  better  lie  down  now  % 
You'll  be  sick,  keeping  up  so  long,  Ellen." 

"  No,  no,  dear,  I'm  not  tired,"  I  returned,  continually. 

Perceiving  me  immovable,  she  essayed  another  method  of 
showing  her  disrelish  for  her  occupation.  It  changed  to  yawn- 
ing, and  stretching,  and — 

"  Ellen,  I'm  tired." 

"  Give  over  then,  and  talk,"  I  answered. 

That  was  worse  ;  she  fretted  and  sighed,  and  looked  at  her 
watch  till  eight ;  and  finally  went  to  her  room,  completely  over- 
done with  sleep,  judging  by  her  peevish,  heavy  look,  and  the 
constant  rubbing  she  inflicted  on  her  eyes. 

The  following  night  she  seemed  more  impatient  still ;  and  on 
the  third  she  complained  of  a  head-ache,  and  left  me.  I  thought 
her  conduct  odd ;  and  having  remained  alone  a  long  while,  I 
resolved  on  going  and  inquiring  whether  she  were  better,  and 
asking  her  to  come  and  lie  on  the  sofa,  instead  of  up-stairs,  in 
the  dark. 

No  Catherine  could  I  discover  up-stairs,  and  none  below. 
The  servants  affirmed  they  had  not  seen  her.  I  listened  at  Mr. 
Edgar's  door — all  was  silence.  I  returned  to  her  apartment, 
extinguished  my  candle,  and  seated  myself  in  the  window. 

The  moon  shone  bright ;  a  sprinkling  of  snow  covered  the 
ground,  and  I  reflected  that  she  might,  possibly,  have  taken  it 
into  her  head  to  walk  about  the  garden,  for  refreshment.  I  did 
detect  a  figure  creeping  along  the  inner  fence  of  the  park  ;  but 
it  was  not  my  young  mistress  ;  on  its  emerging  into  the  light,  I 


212  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

recognized  one  of  the  grooms.  He  stood  a  considerable  period 
viewing  the  carriage  road  through  the  grounds;  then  started 
off  at  a  brisk  pace,  as  if  he  had  detected  something,  and  reap- 
peared, presently,  leading  Miss's  pony  ;  and  there  she  was,  just 
dismounted,  and  walking  by  its  side. 

The  man  took  his  charge  stealthily  across  the  grass  toward 
the  stable.  Cathy  entered  by  the  casement  window  of  the  draw- 
ing-room, and  glided  noiselessly  up  to  where  I  awaited  her. 
She  put  the  door  gently  to,  slipped  off  her  snowy  shoes,  untied 
her  hat,  and  was  proceeding,  unconscious  of  my  espionage,  to 
lay  aside  her  mantle,  when  I  suddenly  rose,  and  revealed  my- 
self. The  surprise  petrified  her  an  instant ;  she  uttered  an  in- 
articulate exclamation,  and  stood  fixed. 

"  My  dear  Miss  Catherine,"  I  began,  too  vividly  impressed 
by  her  recent  kindness  to  break  into  a  scold,  "  where  have  you 
been  riding  at  this  hour  %  And  now  why  should  you  try  to  de- 
ceive me,  by  telling  a  tale.     Where  have  you  been  1     Speak !" 

"  To  the  bottom  of  the  park,"  she  stammered.  "  I  didn't  tell 
a  tale." 

"  And  nowhere  else  V  I  demanded. 

"  No,"  was  the  muttered  reply. 

"  Oh,  Catherine,"  I  cried  sorrowfully.  "  You  know  you  have 
been  doing  wrong,  or  you  wouldn't  be  driven  to  uttering  an  un- 
truth to  me.  That  does  grieve  me.  I'd  rather  be  three  months 
ill,  than  hear  you  frame  a  deliberate  lie." 

She  sprang  forward,  and  bursting  into  tears,  threw  her  arms 
round  my  neck. 

"Well  Ellen,  I'm  so  afraid  of  your  being  angry,"  she  said. 
"  Promise  not  to  be  angry,  and  you  shall  know  the  very  truth. 
I  hate  to  hide." 

We  sat  down  in  the  window-seat ;  I  assured  her  I  would  not 
scold,  whatever  her  secret  might  be,  and  I  guessed  it,  of  course; 
so  she  commenced — 

"  I've  been  to  Wuthering  Heights,  Ellen,  and  I've  never 
missed  going  a  day  since  you  fell  ill,  except  thrice  before,  and 
twice  after  you  left  your  room.  I  gave  Michael  books  and  pic- 
tures to  prepare  Minny  every  evening,  and  to  put  her  back  in 
the  stable  ;  you  mustn't  scold  him  either,  mind.  I  was  at  the 
Heights  by  half-past  six,  and  generally  stayed  till  half-past 
eight,  and  then  galloped  home.  It  was  not  to  amuse  myself 
that  I  went;  I  was  often  wretched  all  the  time.  Now  and  then, 
1  was  happy,  once  in  a  week  perhaps.     At  first,  I  expected 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  213 

there  would  be  sad  work  persuading  you  to  let  me  keep  my 
word  to  Linton,  for  I  had  engaged  to  call  again  next  day,  when 
we  quitted  him ;  but,  as  you  staid  up-stairs  on  the  morrow,  I 
escaped  that  trouble ;  and  while  Michael  was  refastening  the 
lock  of  the  park  door  in  the  afternoon,  I  got  possession  of 
the  key,  and  told  him  how  my  cousin  wished  me  to  visit  him, 
because  he  was  sick,  and  couldn't  come  to  the  Grange ;  and 
how  papa  would  object  to  my  going.  And  then  I  negotiated 
with  him  about  the  pony.  He  is  fond  of  reading,  and  he  thinks 
of  leaving  soon  to  get  married,  so  he  offered,  if  I  would  lend  him 
books  out  of  the  library,  to  do  what  I  wished ;  but  I  preferred 
giving  him  my  own,  and  that  satisfied  him  better. 

"  On  my  second  visit,  Linton  seemed  in  lively  spirits ;  and 
Zillah,  that  is  their  housekeeper,  made  us  a  clean  room,  and  a 
good  fire,  and  told  us  that  as  Joseph  was  out  at  a  prayer-meet- 
ing, and  Hareton  was  off  with  his  dogs,  robbing  our  woods  of 
pheasants,  as  I  heard  afterward,  we  might  do  what  we  liked. 

"  She  brought  me  some  warm  wine  and  gingerbread  ;  and  ap- 
peared exceedingly  good-natured ;  and  Linton  sat  in  the  arm- 
chair, and  I  in  the  little  rocking  chair,  on  the  hearthstone,  and 
we  laughed  and  talked  so  merrily,  and  found  so  much  to  say  ; 
we  planned  where  we  would  go,  and  what  we  would  do  in 
summer.     I  needn't  repeat  that,  because  you  would  call  it  silly. 

"  One  time,  however,  we  were  near  quarreling.  He  said 
the  pleasantest  manner  of  spending  a  hot  July  day  was  lying 
from  morning  till  evening  on  a  bank  of  heath  in  the  middle  of 
the  moors,  with  the  bees  humming  dreamily  about  among  the 
bloom,  and  the  larks  singing  high  up  over  head,  and  the  blue 
sky,  and  bright  sun  shining  steadily  and  cloudlessly.  That  was 
his  most  perfect  idea  of  heaven's  happiness— mine  was  rocking 
in  a  rustling  green  tree,  with  a  west  wind  blowing,  and  bright, 
white  clouds  flitting  rapidly  above ;  and  not  only  larks,  but 
throstles,  and  blackbirds,  and  linnets,  and  cuckoos  pouring  out 
music  on  every  side,  and  the  moors  seen  at  a  distance,  broken 
into  cool  dusky  dells ;  but  close  by  great  swells  of  long  grass 
undulating  in  waves  to  the  breeze  ;  and  woods  and  sounding 
water,  and  the  whole  world  awake  and  wild  with  joy.  He 
wanted  all  to  lie  in  an  ecstacy  of  peace ;  I  wanted  all  to  sparkle, 
and  dance  in  a  glorious  jubilee. 

"  I  said  his  heaven  would  be  only  half  alive,  and  he  said  mine 
would  be  drunk ;  I  said  I  should  fall  asleep  in  his,  and  he  said 
he  could  not  breathe  in  mine,  and  began  to  grow  very  snappish. 


214  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS, 

At  last,  we  agreed  to  try  both,  as  soon  as  the  right  weather 
came ;  and  then  we  kissed  each  other  and  were  friends.  After 
sitting  still  an  hour,  I  looked  at  the  great  room  with  its  smooth, 
uncarpeted  floor ;  and  thought  how  nice  it  would  be  to  play  in, 
if  we  removed  the  table;  and  Tasked  Linton  to  call  Zillah  in  to 
help  us — and  we'd  have  a  game  at  blind-man's  buff — she  should 
try  to  catch  us — you  used  to,  you  know,  Ellen.  He  wouldn't ; 
there  was  no  pleasure  in  it,  he  said;  but  he  consented  to  play 
at  ball  with  me.  We  found  two,  in  a  cupboard,  among  a  heap 
of  old  toys ;  tops,  and  hoops,  and  battledoors,  and  shuttlecocks. 
One  was  marked  C,  and  the  other  H. ;  I  wished  to  have  the 
C,  because  that  stood  for  Catherine,  and  the  H.  might  be  for 
Heathcliff,  his  name ;  but  the  bran  came  out  of  H.,  and  Linton 
didn't  like  it. 

"  I  beat  him  constantly ;  and  he  got  cross  again,  and  coughed, 
and  returned  to  his  chair:  that  night,  though,  he  easily  recov- 
ered his  good  humor ;  he  was  charmed  with  two  or  three  pretty 
songs — your  songs,  Ellen ;  and  when  I  was  obliged  to  go,  he 
begged  and  entreated  me  to  come  the  following  evening,  and  I 
promised. 

"  Minny  and  I  went  flying  home,  as  light  as  air :  and  I 
dreamed  of  Wuthering  Heights,  and  my  sweet,  darling  cousin, 
till  morning. 

"  On  the  morrow  I  was  sad ;  partly  because  you  were  poorly, 
and  partly  that  I  wished  my  father  knew  and  approved  of  my 
excursions  :  but  it  was  beautiful  moonlight  after  tea ;  and,  as  I 
rode  on,  the  gloom  cleared. 

"  I  shall  have  another  happy  evening,  I  thought  to  myself, 
and  what  delights  me  more,  my  pretty  Linton  will. 

"  I  trotted  up  their  garden,  and  was  turning  round  to  the 
back,  when  that  fellow  Earnshaw  met  me,  took  my  bridle,  and 
bid  me  go  in  by  the  front  entrance.  He  patted  Minny 's  neck, 
and  said  she  was  a  bonny  beast,  and  appeared  as  if  he  wanted 
me  to  speak  to  him.  I  only  told  him  to  leave  my  horse  alone, 
or  else  it  would  kick  him.     He  answered  in  his  vulgar  accent. 

"  * It  wouldn't  do  mitch  hurt  if  it  did;'  and  surveyed  its  legs 
with  a  smile. 

"  I  was  half  inclined  to  make  it  try ;  however,  he  moved  off 
to  open  the  door,  and,  as  he  raised  the  latch,  he  looked  up  to 
the  inscription  above,  and  said,  with  a  stupid  mixture  of  awk- 
wardness and  elation : 

"  *  Miss  Catherine !  I  can  read  yon,  nab.' 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  215 

"  '■  Wonderful,'  I  exclaimed.  i  Pray  let  us  hear  you — you 
are  grown  clever !' 

"  He  spelled,  and  drawled  over  by  syllables,  the  name — 

"  '  Hareton  Earnshaw.' 

"'And  the  figures]'  I  cried,  encouragingly,  perceiving  that 
he  came  to  a  dead  halt. 

'■ '  I  can  not  tell  them  yet,'  he  answered. 

"  '  Oh,  you  dunce !'  "  I  said,  laughing  heartily  at  his  failure. 

"  The  fool  stared,  with  a  grin  hovering  about  his  lips,  and  a 
scowl  gathering  over  his  eyes,  as  if  uncertain  whether  he  might 
not  join  in  my  mirth ;  whether  it  were  not  pleasant  familiarity, 
or  what  it  really  was,  contempt.  I  settled  his  doubts  by  sud- 
denly retrieving  my  gravity,  and  desiring  him  to  walk  away,  for 
I  came  to  see  Linton,  not  him. 

"  He  reddened — I  saw  that  by  the  moonlight — dropped  his 
hand  from  the  latch,  and  skulked  off,  a  picture  of  mortified 
vanity.  He  imagined  himself  to  be  as  accomplished  as  Linton, 
I  suppose,  because  he  could  spell  his  own  name ;  and  was 
marvelously  discomfited  that  I  didn't  think  the  same. 

"  Stop,  Miss  Catherine,  dear  !"  I  interrupted.  "  I  shall  not 
scold,  but  I  don't  like  your  conduct  there.  If  you  had  remem- 
bered that  Hareton  was  your  cousin,  as  much  as  Master  Heath- 
cliff,  you  would  have  felt  how  improper  it  was  to  behave  in 
that  way.  At  least,  it  was  praiseworthy  ambition  for  him  to 
desire  to  be  as  accomplished  as  Linton :  and  probably  he  did 
not  learn  merely  to  show  off;  you  had  made  him  ashamed  of 
his  ignorance  before — I  have  no  doubt ;  and  he  wished  to 
remedy  it  and  please  you.  To  sneer  at  his  imperfect  attempt 
was  very  bad  breeding — had  you  been  brought  up  in  his  cir- 
cumstances, would  you  be  less  rude  ]  he  was  as  quick  and  as 
intelligent  a  child  as  ever  you  were,  and  I'm  hurt  that  he  should 
be  despised  now,  because  that  base  Heathcliff  has  treated  him 
so  unjustly." 

"  Well,  Ellen,  you  won't  cry  about  it,  will  you  V9  she  ex- 
claimed, surprised  at  my  earnestness.  "  But  wait,  and  you 
shall  hear  if  he  conned  his  a  b  c,  to  please  me ;  and  if  it  were 
worth  while  being  civil  to  the  brute.  I  entered,  Linton  was 
lying  on  the  settle  and  half  got  up  to  welcome  me. 

"  '  I'm  ill  to-night,  Catherine,  love,'  he  said,  '  and  you  must 
have  all  the  talk,  and  let  me  listen.  Come,  and  sit  by  me  ;  I 
was  sure  you  wouldn't  break  your  word,  and  I'll  make  you 
promise  again,  before  you  go/ 


216  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

"  I  knew  now  that  I  mustn't  tease  him,  as  he  was  ill ;  and  I 
spoke  softly  and  put  no  questions,  and  avoided  irritating  him  in 
any  way.  I  had  brought  some  of  my  nicest  books  for  him  ;  he 
asked  me  to  read  a  little  of  one,  and  I  was  about  to  comply, 
when  Earnshaw  burst  the  door  open,  having  gathered  venom 
with  reflection.  He  advanced  direct  to  us ;  seized  Linton  by 
the  arm,  and  swung  him  off  the  seat. 

" '  Get  to  thy  own  room  !'  he  said,  in  a  voice  almost  inarticu- 
late with  passion,  and  his  face  looked  swelled  and  furious. 
4  Take  her  there  if  she  comes  to  see  thee — thou  shalln't  keep 
me  out  of  this.     Begone  wi'  ye  both  !' 

"  He  swore  at  us,  and  left  Linton  no  time  to  answer,  nearly 
throwing  him  into  the  kitchen ;  and  he  clenched  his  fist,  as  I 
followed,  seemingly  longing  to  knock  me  down.  I  was  afraid, 
for  a  moment,  and  I  let  one  volume  fall ;  he  kicked  it  after  me, 
and  shut  us  out. 

"  I  heard  a  malignant,  crackly  laugh  by  the  fire,  and,  turning, 
beheld  that  odious  Joseph,  standing  rubbing  his  bony  hands,  and 
quivering. 

"  '  Aw  wer  sure  he'd  sarve  ye  eht !  He's  a  grand  lad  !  He's 
getten  t'raight  sperrit  in  him  !  He  knaws — aye,  he  knaws  as 
weel  as  aw  do,  who  sud  be  t'maister  yonder.  Ech,  ech,  ech ! 
He  mad  ye  skift  properly  !     Ech,  ech,  ech  !' 

"  '  Where  must  we  go  V  I  said  to  my  cousin,  disregarding  the 
old  wretch's  mockery. 

"  Linton  was  white  and  trembling.  He  was  not  pretty  then, 
Ellen.  Oh,  no  ;  he  looked  frightful,  for  his  thin  face  and  large 
eyes  were  wrought  into  an  expression  of  frantic,  powerless 
fury.  He  grasped  the  handle  of  the  door,  and  shook  it.  It 
was  fastened  inside. 

"  '  If  you  don't  let  me  in  I'll  kill  you — if  you  don't  let  me  in 
I'll  kill  you  !'  he  rather  shrieked  than  said.  *  Devil !  devil !  I'll 
kill  you,  I'll  kill  you!' 

"  Joseph  uttered  his  croaking  laugh  again. 

"  ■  Thear,  that's  t'father !'  he  cried.  '  That's  father  !  We've 
alias  summut  uh  orther  side  in  us.  Niver  heed,  Hareton,  lad — 
dunnut  be  'feard — he  can  not  get  at  thee  !' 

"  I  took  hold  of  Linton's  hands,  and  tried  to  pull  him  away ; 
but  he  shrieked  so  shockingly  that  I  dared  not  proceed.  At  last, 
his  cries  were  choked  by  a  dreadful  fit  of  coughing ;  blood 
gushed  from  his  mouth,  and  he  fell  on  the  ground. 

"  I  ran  into  the  yard,  sick  with  tenor,  and  called  for  Zillah 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  217 

as  loud  as  I  could.  She  soon  heard  me ;  she  was  milking  the 
cows  in  a  shed  behind  the  barn,  and,  hurrying  from  her  work, 
she  inquired  what  there  was  to  do  % 

"  I  hadn't  breath  to  explain  ;  dragging  her  in,  I  looked  about 
for  Linton.  Earnshaw  had  come  out  to  examine  the  mischief 
he  had  caused,  and  he  was  then  conveying  the  poor  thing  up- 
stairs. Zillah  and  I  ascended  after  him  ;  but  he  stopped  me  at 
the  top  of  the  steps,  and  said  I  shouldn't  go  in,  I  must  go 
home.  I  exclaimed  that  he  had  killed  Linton,  and  I  would 
enter. 

"  Joseph  locked  the  door,  and  declared  I  should  do  '  no  sich 
stuff,'  and  asked  me  whether  I  were  '  bahn  to  be  as  mad  as 
him]' 

"  I  stood  crying,  till  the  housekeeper  re-appeared ;  she  affirm- 
ed he  would  be  better  in  a  bit ;  but  he  couldn't  do  with  that 
shrieking  and  din,  and  she  took  me,  and  nearly  carried  me  into 
the  house. 

"  Ellen,  I  was  ready  to  tear  my  hair  off  my  head  !  I  sobbed 
and  wept,  so  that  my  eyes  were  almost  blind ;  and  the  ruffian 
you  have  such  sympathy  with  stood  opposite,  presuming  every 
now  and  then  to  bid  me  'wisht,'  and  denying  that  it  was  his 
fault ;  and,  finally,  frightened  by  my  assertions  that  I  would  tell 
papa,  and  he  should  be  put  in  prison  and  hanged,  he  commenced 
blubbering  himself,  and  hurried  out  to  hide  his  cowardly  agita- 
tion. Still  I  was  not  rid  of  him.  When  at  length  they  com- 
pelled me  to  depart,  and  I  had  got  some  hundred  yards  off  the 
premises,  he  suddenly  issued  from  the  shadow  of  the  road-side, 
and  checked  Minny  and  took  hold  of  me.  , 

"  '  Miss  Catherine,  I'm  ill  grieved,'  he  began,  '  but  it's  rayther 
too  bad- ' 

"  I  gave  him  a  cut  with  my  whip,  thinking,  perhaps  he 
would  murder  me.  He  let  go,  thundering  one  of  his  horrid 
curses,  and  I  galloped  home,  more  than  half  out  of  my  senses. 

"I  didn't  bid  you  good-night  that  evening;  and  I  didn't  go 
to  Wuthering  Heights  the  next.  I  wished  to  exceedingly ;  but 
I  was  strangely  excited,  and  dreaded  to  hear  that  Linton  was 
dead,  sometimes,  and  sometimes  shuddered  at  the  thought  of 
encountering  Hareton. 

"  On  the  third  day  I  took  courage — at  least  I  couldn't  bear 
longer  suspense  —  and  stole  off  once  more.  I  went  at  five 
o'clock,  and  walked,  fancying  I  might  manage  to  creep  into  the 
house,  and  up  to  Linton's  room,  uuobserved.     However,  the 

K 


218  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

dogs  gave  notice  of  my  approach  ;  Zillah  received  me,  and  say- 
ing, ■  the  lad  was  mending  nicely,'  showed  me  into  a  small,  tidy, 
carpeted  apartment,  where,  to  my  inexpressible  joy,  I  beheld 
Linton  laid  on  a  little  sofa,  reading  one  of  my  books.  But  he 
would  neither  speak  to  me  nor  look  at  me  through  a  whole 
hour,  Ellen.  He  has  such  an  unhappy  temper ;  and  what  quite 
confounded  me,  when  he  did  open  his  mouth,  it  was  to  uttei 
the  falsehood,  that  I  had  occasioned  the  uproar,  and  Hareton 
was  not  to  blame  ! 

"  Unable  to  reply,  except  passionately,  I  got  up,  and  walked 
from  the  room.  He  sent  after  me  a  faint  '  Catherine  !'  he  did 
not  reckon  on  being  answered  so — but  I  wouldn't  turn  back ; 
and  the  morrow  was  the  second  day  on  which  I  stayed  at  home, 
nearly  determined  to  visit  him  no  more. 

"  But  it  was  so  miserable  going  to  bed,  and  getting  up,  and 
never  hearing  any  thing  about  him,  that  my  resolution  melted 
into  air,  before  it  was  properly  formed.  It  had  appeared  wrong 
to  take  the  journey  once  ;  now  it  seemed  wrong  to  refrain. 
Michael  came  to  ask  if  he  must  saddle  Minny ;  I  said  '  Yes,' 
and  considered  myself  doing  a  duty  as  she  bore  me  over  the 
hills.  I  was  forced  to  pass  the  front  windows  to  get  to  the 
court ;  it  was  no  use  trying  to  conceal  my  presence. 

"'Young  master  is  in  the  house,'  said  Zillah,  as  she  saw  me 
making  for  the  parlor. 

"I  went  in;  Earnshaw  was  there  also,  but  he  quitted  the 
room  directly.  Linton  sat  in  the  great  arm-chair  half  asleep ; 
walking  up  to  the  fire,  I  began  in  a  serious  tone,  partly  mean- 
ing it  to  be  true. 

"  'As  you  don't  like  me,  Linton,  and  as  you  think  I  come  on 
purpose  to  hurt  you,  and  pretend  that  I  do  so  every  time,  this  is 
our  last  meeting — let  us  say  good  bye  ;  and  tell  Mr.  HeathclifF 
that  you  have  no  wish  to  see  me,  and  that  he  mustn't  invent  any 
more  falsehoods  on  the  subject.' 

" '  Sit  down  and  take  your  hat  off,  Catherine,'  he  answered. 
4  You  are  so  much  happier  than  1  am,  you  ought  to  be  better. 
Papa  talks  enough  of  my  defects,  and  shows  enough  scorn  of 
me,  to  make  it  natural  I  should  doubt  myself  I  doubt  whether 
I  am  not  altogether  as  worthless  as  he  calls  me,  frequently ;  and 
then  I  feel  so  cross  and  bitter,  I  hate  every  body  !  I  am  worth- 
less, and  bad  in  temper,  and  bad  in  spirit,  almost  always — and 
if  you  choose,  you  may  say  good  bye- — you'll  get  rid  of  an  an- 
noyance.    Only,  Catherine,  do  me  this  justice ;  believe  that  if  I 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  219 


might  be  as  sweet,  and  as  kind,  and  as  good  as  you  are,  I  would 
be,  as  willingly,  and  more  so,  than  as  happy  and  as  healthy.  And, 
believe  that  your  kindness  has  made  me  love  you  deeper  than 
if  I  deserved  your  love,  and  though  I  couldn't,  and  can  not  help 
showing  my  nature  to  you,  I  regret  it,  and  repent  it,  and  shall 
regret,  and  repent  it,  till  I  die !' 

"  I  felt  he  spoke  the  truth ;  and  I  felt  I  must  forgive  him ;  and, 
though  he  should  quarrel  the  next  moment,  I  must  forgive  him 
again.  We  were  reconciled,  but  we  cried,  both  of  us,  the 
whole  time  I  stayed.  Not  entirely  for  sorrow,  yet  I  was  sorry 
Linton  had  that  distorted  nature.  He'll  never  let  his  friends  be 
at  ease,  and  he'll  never  be  at  ease  himself! 

"I  have  always  gone  to  his  little  parlor,  since  that  night; 
because  his  father  returned  the  day  after.  About  three  times, 
I  think,  we  have  been  merry  and  hopeful,  as  we  were  the  first 
evening;  the  rest  of  my  visits  were  dreary  and  troubled — now 
with  his  selfishness  and  spite  ;  and  now  with  his  sufferings  :  but 
I've  learned  to  endure  the  former  with  nearly  as  little  resent- 
ment as  the  latter. 

"  Mr.  Heathcliff  purposely  avoids  me.  I  have  hardly  seen 
him  at  all.  Last  Sunday,  indeed,  coming  earlier  than  usual,  I 
heard  him  abusing  poor  Linton,  cruelly,  for  his  conduct  of  the 
night  before.  I  can't  tell  how  he  knew  of  it,  unless  he  listened. 
Linton  had  certainly  behaved  provokingly ;  however,  it  was  the 
business  of  nobody  but  me  ;  and  I  interrupted  Mr.  Heathcliff's 
lecture,  by  entering,  and  telling  him  so.  He  burst  into  a  laugh, 
and  went  away,  saying  he  was  glad  I  took  that  view  of  the 
matter.  Since  then,  I've  told  Linton  he  must  whisper  his  bitter 
things. 

"  Now,  Ellen,  you  have  heard  all ;  and  I  can't  be  prevented 
from  going  to  Wuthering  Heights,  except  by  inflicting  misery 
on  two  people — whereas,  if  you'll  only  not  tell  papa,  my  going 
need  disturb  the  tranquillity  of  none.  You'll  not  tell,  will  you  1 
It  will  be  very  heartless  if  you  do." 

"  I'll  make  up  my  mind  on  that  point  by  to-morrow,  Miss 
Catherine,"  I  replied.  "  It  requires  some  study ;  and  so  I'll 
leave  you  to  your  rest,  and  go  think  it  over." 

I  thought  it  over  aloud  in  my  master's  presence ;  walking 
straight  from  her  room  to  his,  and  relating  the  whole  story  with 
the  exception  of  her  conversations  with  her  cousin,  and  any 
mention  of  Hareton. 

Mr.  Linton  was  alarmed  and  distressed  more  than  he  would 


220  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

acknowledge  to  me.  In  the  morning,  Catherine  learned  my 
betrayal  of  her  confidence,  and  she  learned  also  that  her  secret 
visits  were  to  end. 

In  vain  she  wept  and  writhed  against  the  interdict ;  and  im- 
plored her  father  to  have  pity  on  Linton  :  all  she  got  to  comfort 
her  was  a  promise  that  he  would  write,  and  give  him  leave  to 
come  to  the  Grange  when  he  pleased  ;  but  explaining  that  he 
must  no  longer  expect  to  see  Catherine  at  Wuthering  Heights. 
Perhaps,  had  he  been  aware  of  his  nephew's  disposition  and 
state  of  health,  he  would  have  seen  fit  to  withhold  even  that 
slight  consolation. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

These  things  happened  last  winter,  sir, — said  Mrs.  Dean. — 
Jiardly  more  than  a  year  ago.  Last  winter,  I  did  not  think,  at 
another  twelve  months'  end,  I  should  be  amusing  a  stranger  to 
the  family  with  relating  them!  Yet,  who  knows  how  long 
you'll  be  a  stranger]  You're  too  young  to  rest  always  con- 
tented, living  by  yourself;  and  I  some  way  fancy  no  one  could 
see  Catherine  Linton,  and  not  love  her.  You  smile ;  but  why 
do  you  look  so  lively  and  interested,  when  I  talk  about  her — 
and  why  have  you  asked  me  to  hang  her  picture  over  your  fire- 
place] and  why — 

"  Stop,  my  good  fiiend  !"  I  cried.  "  It  may  be  very  possible 
that  I  should  love  her ;  but  would  she  love  me  ]  I  doubt  it 
too  much  to  venture  my  tranquillity,  by  running  into  tempta- 
tion ;  and  then  my  home  is  not  here.  I'm  of  the  busy  world, 
and  to  its  arms  I  must  return.  Go  on.  Was  Catherine  obedient 
to  her  father's  commands  %" 

She  was,  continued  the  housekeeper. — Her  affection  for  him 
was  still  the  chief  sentiment  in  her  heart ;  and  he  spoke  without 
anger ;  he  spoke  in  the  deep  tenderness  of  one  about  to  leave 
his  treasure  amid  perils  and  foes,  where  his  remembered  words 
would  be  the  only  aid  that  he  could  bequeath  to  guide  her. 

He  said  to  me,  a  few  days  afterward, 

"  I  wish  my  nephew  would  write,  Ellen,  or  call.  Tell  me, 
sincerely,  what  do  you  think  of  him ;  is  he  changed  for  the  better, 
or  is  there  a  prospect  of  improvement,  as  he  grows  a  man  V* 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  221 

"  He's  very  delicate,  sir,"  I  replied  ;  "  and  scarcely  likely  to 
reach  manhood ;  but  this  I  can  say,  he  does  not  resemble  his 
father  ;  and  if  Miss  Catherine  had  the  misfortune  to  marry  him, 
he  would  not  be  beyond  her  control,  unless  she  were  extremely 
and  foolishly  indulgent.  However,  master,  you'll  have  plenty 
of  time  to  get  acquainted  with  him,  and  see  whether  he  would 
suit  her ;  it  wants  four  years  and  more  to  his  being  of  age." 

Edgar  sighed ;  and,  walking  to  the  window,  looked  out  to- 
ward Gimmerton  Kirk,  It  was  a  misty  afternoon,  but  the 
February  sun  shone  dimly,  and  we  could  just  distinguish  the 
two  fir-trees  in  the  yard,  and  the  sparely  scattered  gravestones. 

"  I've  prayed  often,"  he  half  soliloquized,  "  for  the  approach 
of  what  is  coming ;  and  now  I  begin  to  shrink  and  fear  it.  I 
thought  the  memory  of  the  hour  I  came  down  that  glen  a  bride- 
groom, would  be  less  sweet  than  the  anticipation  that  I  was 
soon,  in  a  few  months,  or,  possibly  weeks,  to  be  carried  up  and 
laid  in  its  lonely  hollow  !  Ellen,  I've  been  very  happy  with  my 
little  Cathy.  Through  winter  nights  and  summer  days  she  was 
a  living  hope  at  my  side — but  I've  been  as  happy  musing  by 
myself  among  those  stones,  under  that  old  church — lying, 
through  the  long  June  evenings,  on  the  green  mound  of  her 
mother's  grave,  and  wishing,  yearning  for  the  time  when  I 
might  lie  beneath  it.  What  can  I  do  for  Cathy]  How  must 
I  quit  her  1  I'd  not  care  one  moment  for  Linton  being  Heath- 
cliff's  son ;  nor  for  his  taking  her  from  me,  if  he  could  console 
her  for  my  loss.  I'd  not  care  that  Heathcliff  gained  his  ends, 
and  triumphed  in  robbing  me  of  my  last  blessing  !  But  should 
Linton  be  unworthy — only  a  feeble  tool  to  his  father — I  can 
not  abandon  her  to  him !  And,  hard  though  it  be  to  crush  her 
buoyant  spirit,  I  must  persevere  in  making  her  sad  while  I  live, 
and  leaving  her  solitary  when  I  die.  Darling !  I'd  rather  re- 
sign her  to  God,  and  lay  her  in  the  earth  before  me." 

"  Resign  her  to  God,  as  it  is,  sir,"  I  answered,  "  and  if  we 
should  lose  you — which  may  He  forbid — under  His  providence 
I'll  stand  her  friend  and  counsellor  to  the  last.  Miss  Catherine 
is  a  good  girl ;  I  don't  fear  that  she  will  go  willfully  wrong;  and 
people  who  do  their  duty  are  always  finally  rewarded." 

Spring  advanced ;  yet  my  master  gathered  no  real  strength, 
though  he  resumed  his  walks  in  the  grounds  with  his  daughter. 
To  her  inexperienced  notions,  this  itself  was  a  sign  of  con- 
valescence ;  and  then  his  cheek  was  often  flushed,  and  his  eyes 
were  bright ;  she  felt  sure  of  his  recovering. 


222  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

On  her  seventeenth  birthday  he  did  not  visit  the  churchyard, 
it  was  raining,  and  I  observed— 

"  You'll  surely  not  go  out  to-night,  sir  V 

"  No,  I'll  defer  it,  this  year,  a  little  longer,"  he  answered. 

He  wrote  again  to  Linton,  expressing  his  great  desire  to  see 
him;  and,  had  the  invalid  been  presentable,  I've  no  doubt  his 
father  would  have  permitted  him  to  come.  As  it  was,  being 
instructed,  he  returned  an  answer,  intimating  that  Mr.  Heath- 
cliff  objected  to  his  calling  at  the  Grange ;  but  his  uncle's  kind 
remembrance  delighted  him,  and  he  hoped  to  meet  him  some- 
times in  his  rambles,  and  personally  to  petition  that  his  cousin 
and  he  might  not  remain  long  so  utterly  divided. 

That  part  of  his  letter  was  simple,  and,  probably,  his  own. 
Heathcliff  knew  he  could  plead  eloquently  enough  for  Catherine's 
company.     Then — 

"I  do  not  ask,"  he  said,  "  that  she  may  visit  here;  but  am  I 
never  to  see  her,  because  my  father  forbids  me  to  go  to  her 
home,  and  you  forbid  her  to  come  to  mine  ]  Do,  now  and 
then,  ride  with  her  toward  the  Heights ;  and  let  us  exchange  a 
few  words  in  your  presence  4  we  have  done  nothing  to  deserve 
this  separation ;  and  you  are  not  angry  with  me — you  have  no 
reason  to  dislike  me — you  allow  yourself.  Dear  uncle!  send 
me  a  kind  note  to-morrow ;  and  leave  to  join  you  any  where 
you  please,  except  at  Thrushcross  Grange.  I  believe  an  inter- 
view would  convince  you  that  my  father's  character  is  not 
mine ;  he  affirms  I  am  more  your  nephew  than  his  son  ;  and 
though  I  have  faults  which  render  me  unworthy  of  Catherine, 
she  has  excused  them,  and,  for  her  sake,  you  should  also.  You 
inquire  after  my  health — it  is  better ;  but  while  I  remain  cut 
off  from  all  hope,  and  doomed,  to  solitude,  or  to  the  society 
of  those  who  never  did,  and  never  will  like  me,  how  can  I  be 
cheerful  and  well  %" 

Edgar,  though  he  felt  for  the  boy,  could  not  consent  to  grant 
his  request;  because  he  could  not  accompany  Catherine. 

He  said,  in  summer,  perhaps,  they  might  meet ;  meantime, 
he  wished  him  to  continue  writing  at  intervals,  and  engaged  to 
give  him  what  advice  and  comfort  he  was  able  by  letter ;  being 
well  aware  of  his  hard  position  in  his  family. 

Linton  complied;  and  had  he  been  unrestrained,  would 
probably  have  spoiled  all  by  filling  his  epistles  with  complaints 
and  lamentations  ;  but  his  father  kept  a  sharp  watch  over  him ; 
and,  of  course,  insisted  on  every  Hue  that  my  master  sent  being 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  223 

shown  ;  so  instead  of  penning  his  peculiar  personal  sufferings 
and  distresses,  the  themes  constantly  uppermost  in  his  thoughts, 
he  harped  on  the  cruel  obligation  of  being  held  asunder  from 
his  friend  and  love  ;  and  gently  intimated  that  Mr.  Linton  must 
allow  an  interview  soon,  or  he  should  fear  he  was  purposely 
deceiving  him  with  empty  promises. 

Cathy  was  a  powerful  ally  at  home  :  and,  between  them, 
they,  at  length,  persuaded  my  master  to  acquiesce  in  their 
having  a  ride  or  a  walk  together,  about  once  a  week,  under  my 
guardianship,  and  on  the  moors  nearest  the  Grange ;  for  June 
found  him  still  declining  ;  and,  though  he  had  set  aside  yearly 
a  portion  of  his  income  for  my  young  lady's  fortune,  he  had  a 
natural  desire  that  she  might  retain,  or,  at  least,  return  in  a 
short  time  to  the  house  of  her  ancestors ;  and  he  considered 
her  only  prospect  of  doing  that  was  by  a  union  with  his  heir : 
he  had  no  idea  that  the  latter  was  failing  almost  as  fast  as  him- 
self; nor  had  any  one,  I  believe  ;  no  doctor  visited  the  Heights, 
and  no  one  saw  Master  Heathcliff,  to  make  report  of  his  con- 
dition among  us.  ....,.-..■ 

I,  for  my  part,  began  to  fancy  my  forebodings  were  false, 
and  that  he  must  be  actually  rallying,  when  he  mentioned  riding 
and  walking  on  the  moors,  and  seemed  so  earnest  in  pursuing 
his  object.  I  could  not  picture  a  father  treating  a  dying  child 
as  tyrannically  and  wickedly  as  I  afterward  learned  Heathcliff 
had  treated  him,  to  compel  this  apparent  eagerness ;  his  efforts 
redoubling  the  more  imminently  his  avaricious  and  unfeeling 
plans  were  threatened  with  defeat  by  death. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Summer  was  already  past  its  prime,  when  Edgar  reluctantly 
yielded  his  assent  to  their  entreaties,  and  Catherine  and  I  set 
out  on  our  first  ride  to  join  her  cousin. 

It  was  a  close,  sultry  day,  devoid  of  sunshine,  but  with  a  sky 
too  dappled  and  hazy  to  threaten  rain ;  and  our  place  of  meet- 
ing had  been  fixed  at  the  guide-stone,  by  the  cross-roads.  On 
arriving  there,  however,  a  little  herd-boy,  dispatched  as  a  mes- 
senger, told  us  that — 


224  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  Maister  Linton  wer  just  ut  this  side  th'  Heights,  and  he'd  be 
mitch  obleeged  to  us  to  gang  on  a  bit  further." 

"  Then  Master  Linton  has  forgot  the  first  injunction  of  his 
uncle,"  I  observed :  "  he  bid  us  keep  on  the  Grange  land,  and 
here  we  are,  off  at  once." 

"  Well,  we'll  turn  our  horses'  heads  round  when  we  reach 
him,"  answered  my  companion ;  "  our  excursion  shall  lie  toward 
home." 

But  when  we  reached  him,  and  that  was  scarcely  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  from  his  own  door,  we  found  he  had  no  horse,  and  we 
were  forced  to  dismount,  and  leave  ours  to  graze. 

He  lay  on  the  heath,  awaiting  our  approach,  and  did  not  rise 
till  we  came  within  a  few  yards.  Then  he  walked  so  feebly, 
and  looked  so  pale,  that  I  immediately  exclaimed — 

"  Why,  Master  Heathcliff,  you  are  not  fit  for  enjoying  a  ram- 
Die  this  morning.     How  ill  you  do  look !" 

Catherine  surveyed  him  with  grief  and  astonishment,  and 
changed  the  ejaculation  of  joy  on  her  lips  to  one  of  alarm,  and 
the  congratulation  on  their  long-postponed  meeting  to  an  anxious 
inquiry  whether  he  were  worse  than  usual  1 

"  No — better — better !"  he  panted,  trembling,  and  retaining 
her  hand  as  if  he  needed  its  support,  while  his  large  blue  eyes 
wandered  timidly  over  her,  the  hollowness  round  them  trans- 
forming to  haggard  wildness  the  languid  expression  they  once 


"  But  you  have  been  worse,"  persisted  his  cousin,  "  worse 
than  when  I  saw  you  last — you  are  thinner,  and — " 

"  I'm  tired,"  he  interrupted,  hurriedly.  "  It  is  too  hot  for 
walking  :  let  us  rest  here.  And  in  the  morning  I  often  feel  sick 
— papa  says  I  grow  so  fast." 

Badly  satisfied,  Cathy  sat  down,  and  he  reclined  beside  her. 

"  This  is  something  like  your  paradise,"  said  she,  making  an 
effort  at  cheerfulness.  "  You  recollect  the  two  days  we  agreed 
to  spend  in  the  place  and  way  each  thought  pleasantest  1  This 
is  nearly  yours,  only  there  are  clouds ;  but  then,  they  are  so 
soft  and  mellow,  it  is  nicer  than  sunshine.  Next  week,  if  you 
can,  we'll  ride  down  to  the  Grange  Park,  and  try  mine." 

Linton  did  not  appear  to  remember  what  she  talked  of,  and 
he  had  evidently  great  difficulty  in  sustaining  any  kind  of  con- 
versation. His  lack  of  interest  in  the  subjects  she  started,  and 
his  equal  incapacity  to  contribute  to  her  entertainment,  were  so 
obvious  that  she  could  not  conceal  her  disappointment.     An  in- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  225 

definite  alteration  had  come  over  his  whole  person  and  manner. 
The  pettishness  that  might  be  caressed  into  fondness  had  yielded 
to  a  listless  apathy ;  there  was  less  of  the  peevish  temper  of  a 
child  which  frets  and  teases  on  purpose  to  be  soothed,  and  more 
of  the  self-absorbed  moroseness  of  a  confirmed  invalid,  repelling 
consolation,  and  ready  to  regard  the  good-humored  mirth  of 
others  as  an  insult. 

Catherine  perceived,  as  well  as  I  did,  that  he  held  it  rather  a 
punishment  than  a  gratification  to  endure  our  company  ;  and 
she  made  no  scruple  of  proposing,  presently,  to  depart.  That 
proposal,  unexpectedly,  roused  Linton  from  his  lethargy,  and 
threw  him  into  a  strange  state  of  agitation.  He  glanced  fear- 
fully toward  the  Heights,  begging  she  would  remain  another 
half-hour  at  least. 

"  But,  I  think,"  said  Cathy,  "  you'd  be  more  comfortable  at 
home  than  sitting  here ;  and  I  can  not  amuse  you  to-day,  I  see, 
by  my  tales,  and  songs,  and  chatter.  You  have  grown  wiser 
than  I,  in  these  six  months  ;  you  have  little  taste  for  my  diver- 
sions now ;  or  else,  if  I  could  amuse  you,  I'd  willingly  stay." 

"  Stay  to  rest  yourself,"  he  replied.  "  And,  Catherine,  don't 
think  or  say  that  I'm  very  unwell — it  is  the  heavy  weather  and 
heat  that  make  me  dull;  and  I  walked  about,  before  you  came, 
a  great  deal,  for  me.  Tell  uncle,  I'm  in  tolerable  health,  will 
you  V' 

"  I'll  tell  him  that  you  say  so,  Linton.  I  couldn't  affirm  that 
you  are,"  observed  my  young  lady,  wondering  at  his  pertina- 
cious assertion  of  what  was  evidently  an  untruth. 

"  And  be  here  again  next  Thursday,"  continued  he,  shunning 
her  puzzled  gaze.  "  And  give  him  my  thanks  for  permitting 
you  to  come — my  best  thanks,  Catherine.  And — and,  if  you 
did  meet  my  father,  and  he  asked  you  about  me,  don't  lead 
him  to  suppose  that  I've  been  extremely  silent  and  stupid — 
don't  look  sad  and  downcast,  as  you  are  doing — he'll  be 
angry." 

"  I  care  nothing  for  his  anger,"  exclaimed  Cathy,  imagining 
she  would  be  its  object. 

"  But  I  do,"  said  her  cousin,  shuddering.  "  Dorit  provoke 
him  against  me,  Catherine,  for  he  is  very  hard." 

"Is  he  severe  to  you,  Master  He ath cliff V  I  inquired. 
"  Has  he  grown  weary  of  indulgence,  and  passed  from  passive 
to  active  hatred  ¥' 

Linton  looked  at  me,  but  did  not  answer ;  and,  after  keeping 


226  W  U  T  H  E  R  1  N  G      HEIGHTS. 

her  seat  by  his  side  another  ten  minutes,  during  which  his  head 
fell  drowsily  on  his  breast,  and  he  uttered  nothing  except  sup- 
pressed moans  of  exhaustion,  or  pain,  Cathy  began  to  seek 
solace  in  looking  for  bilberries,  and  sharing  the  produce  of  her 
researches  with  me  :  she  did  not  offer  them  to  him,  for  she  saw 
further  notice  would  only  weary  and  annoy. 

"  Is  it  half  an  hour  now,  Ellen  !"  she  whispered  in  my  ear, 
at  last.  "  I  can't  tell  why  we  should  stay.  He's  asleep,  and 
papa  will  be  wanting  us  back." 

"  Well,  we  must  not  leave  him  asleep,"  I  answered  ;  "  wait 
till  he  wakes,  and  be  patient.  You  were  mighty  eager  to  set 
oft",  but  your  longing  to  see  poor  Linton  has  soon  evaporated." 

ft  Why  did  he  wish  to  see  me  Vr  returned  Catherine.  "  In 
his  crossest  humors,  formerly,  I  liked  him  better  than  I  do 
in  his  present  curious  mood.  It's  just  as  if  it  were  a  task  he 
was  compelled  to  perform — this  interview — for  fear  his  father 
should  scold  him.  But  I'm  hardly  going  to  come  to  give  Mr. 
Heathcliff  pleasure  ;  whatever  reason  he  may  have  for  ordering 
Linton  to  undergo  this  penance.  And,  though  I'm  glad  he's 
better  in  health,  I'm  sorry  he's  so  much  less  pleasant,  and  so 
much  less  affectionate  to  me." 

"  You  think  he  is  better  in  health,  then  V  I  said. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered ;  "  because  he  always  made  such  a 
great  deal  of  his  sufferings,  you  know.  He  is  not  tolerably 
well,  as  he  told  me  to  tell  papa,  but  he's  better,  very  likely." 

"  There  you  differ  with  me,  Miss  Cathy,"  I  remarked  ;  "  I 
should  conjecture  him  to  be  far  worse." 

Linton  here  started  from  his  slumber,  in  bewildered  terror, 
and  asked  if  any  one  had  called  his  name. 

"No,"  said  Catherine;  "unless  in  dreams.  I  can  not  con- 
ceive how  you  manage  to  doze,  out  of  doors,  in  the  morning." 

"  I  thought  I  heard  my  father,"  he  gasped,  glancing  up  to 
the  frowning  nab  above  us.     "  You  are  sure  nobody  spoke  V 

"  Quite  sure,"  replied  his  cousin.  "  Only  Ellen  and  I  were 
disputing  concerning  your  health.  Are  you  truly  stronger, 
Linton,  than  when  we  separated  in  winter]  If  you  be,  I'm 
certain  one  thing  is  not  stronger — your  regard  for  me — speak, 


are 


you  i 


Tears  gushed  from  Linton's  eyes  as  he  answered — \ 
"  Yes,  yes,  I  am!" 

And,  still  under  the  spell  of  the  imaginary  voice,  his  gaze 
wandered  up  and  down  to  detect  its  owner.     Cathy  rose. 


W  U  T  II  E  R  I  N  G       HEIGHTS.  227 

"  For  to-day  we  must  part,"  she  said.  "  And  I  won't  con- 
ceal that  I  have  been  sadly  disappointed  with  our  meeting, 
though  I'll  mention  it  to  nobody  but  you — not  that  I  stand  in 
awe  of  Mr.  Heathcliff!" 

"  Hush,"  murmured  Linton  ;  "  for  God's  sake,  hush  !  He's 
coming."  And  he  clung  to  Catherine's  arm,  striving  to  detain 
her ;  but,  at  that  announcement,  she  hastily  disengaged  herself, 
and  whistled  to  Minny,  who  obeyed  her  like  a  dog. 

"  I'll  be  here  next  Thursday,"  she  cried,  springing  to  the 
saddle.     "  Good  bye.     Quick,  Ellen  !" 

And  so  we  left  him,  scarcely  conscious  of  our  departure,  so 
absorbed  was  he  in  anticipating  his  father's  approach. 

Before  we  reached  home,  Catherine's  displeasure  softened 
into  a  perplexed  sensation  of  pity  and  regret,  largely  blended 
with  vague,  uneasy  doubts  about  Linton's  actual  circumstances, 
physical  and  social ;  in  which  I  partook,  though  I  counselled 
her  not  to  say  much,  for  a  second  journey  would  make  us  better 
judges. 

My  master  requested  an  account  of  our  ongoings  :  his  neph- 
ew's offering  of  thanks  was  duly  delivered,  Miss  Cathy  gently 
touching  on  the  rest :  I  also  threw  little  light  on  his  inquiries, 
for  I  hardly  knew  what  to  hide  and  what  to  reveal. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Seven  days  glided  away,  every  one  marking  its  course  by 
the  henceforth  rapid  alteration  of  Edgar  Linton's  state.  The 
havoc  that  months  had  previously  wrought  was  now  emulated 
by  the  inroads  of  hours.  Catherine  we  would  fain  have  de- 
luded, yet  but  her  own  quick  spirit  refused  to  delude  her.  It 
divined  in  secret,  and  brooded  on  the  dreadful  probability, 
gradually  ripening  into  certainty. 

She  had  not  the  heart  to  mention  her  ride,  when  Thursday 
came  round  ;  I  mentioned  it  for  her,  and  obtained  permission 
to  order  her  out  of  doors  ;  for  the  library,  where  her  father 
stopped  a  short  time  daily,  the  brief  period  he  could  bear  to  sit 
up,  and  the  chamber,  had  become  her  whole  world.  She 
grudged  each  moment  that  did  not  find  her  bending  over  his 


228  WUTHEItING      HEIGHTS. 

pillow,  or  seated  by  his  side.  Her  countenance  grew  wan 
with  watching  and  sorrow,  and  my  master  gladly  dismissed  her 
to  what  he  flattered  himself  would  be  a  happy  change  of 
scene  and  society,  drawing  comfort  from  the  hope  that  she 
would  not  now  be  left  entirely  alone  after  his  death. 

He  had  a  fixed  idea,  I  guessed  by  several  observations  he 
let  fall,  that  as  his  nephew  resembled  him  in  person,  he  would 
resemble  him  in  mind  ;  for  Linton's  letters  bore  few,  or  no  in- 
dications of  his  defective  character.  And  I,  through  pardon- 
able weakness,  refrained  from  correcting  the  error ;  asking  my- 
self what  good  there  would  be  in  disturbing  his  last  moments 
with  information  that  he  had  neither  power  nor  opportunity  to 
turn  to  account. 

We  deferred  our  excursion  till  the  afternoon ;  a  golden  after- 
noon of  August — every  breath  from  the  hills  so  full  of  life,  that  it 
seemed  whoever  respired  it,  though  dying,  might  revive.  Cath- 
erine's face  was  just  like  the  landscape — shadows  and  sunshine 
flitting  over  it  in  rapid  succession  ;  but  the  shadows  rested  long- 
er and  the  sunshine  was  more  transient,  and  her  poor  little 
heart  reproached  itself  for  even  that  passing  forgetfulness  of 
its  cares. 

We  discerned  Linton  watching  at  the  same  spot  he  had  se- 
lected before.  My  young  mistress  alighted,  and  told  me  that 
as  she  was  resolved  to  stay  a  very  little  while,  I  had  better 
hold  the  pony  and  remain  on  horseback  i  but  I  dissented,  I 
wouldn't  risk  losing  sight  of  the  charge  committed  to  me  a  min- 
ute ;  so  we  climbed  the  slope  of  heath  together. 

Master  Heathcliff  received  us  with  greater  animation  on  this 
occasion ;  not  the  animation  of  high  spirits,  though,  nor  yet  of 
joy  ;  it  looked  more  like  fear. 

"  It  is  late  !"  he  said,  speaking  short,  and  with  difficulty. 
"  Is  not  your  father  very  ill  1     I  thought  you  wouldn't  come." 

"  Why  won't  you  be  candid  V  cried  Catherine,  swallowing 
her  greeting.  "  Why  can  not  you  say  at  once,  you  don't  want 
me!  It  is  strange,  Linton,  that  for  the  second  time  you  have 
brought  me  here  on  purpose,  apparently,  to  distress  us  both, 
and  for  no  reason  besides  !" 

Linton  shivered,  and  glanced  at  her,  half  supplicating,  half 
ashamed,  but  his  cousin's  patience  was  not  sufficient  to  endure 
this  enigmatical  behavior. 

"  My  father  is  very  ill,"  she  said,  "  and  why  am  I  called  from 
his  bedside — why  didn't  you  send  to  absolve  me  from  my  prom- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  229 

ise,  when  you  wished  I  wouldn't  keep  it  1  Come  !  I  desire  an 
explanation — playing  and  trifling  are  completely  banished  out 
of  my  mind ;  and  I  can't  dance  attendance  on  your  affectations 
now  !" 

"  My  affectations  !"  he  murmured,  "  what  are  they  ?  For 
heaven's  sake,  Catherine,  don't  look  so  angry !  Despise  me  as 
much  as  you  please ;  I  am  a  worthless,  cowardly  wretch — I 
can't  be  scorned  enough  !  but  I'm  too  mean  for  your  anger — 
hate  my  father,  and  spare  me — for  contempt !" 

"  Nonsense  !"  cried  Catherine,  in  a  passion.  "  Foolish,  silly 
boy  !  And  there  !  he  trembles,  as  if  I  were  really  going  to 
touch  him  !  You  needn't  bespeak  contempt,  Linton  ;  any  body 
will  have  it  spontaneously  at  your  service.  Get  off!  I  shall  re- 
turn home — it  is  folly  dragging  you  from  the  hearth-stone,  and 
pretending — what  do  we  pretend  %  Let  go  my  frock — if  I 
pitied  you  for  crying  and  looking  so  very  frightened,  you  should 
spurn  such  pity  !  Ellen,  tell  him  how  disgraceful  this  conduct  is. 
Rise,  and  don't  degrade  yourself  into  an  abject  reptile — don't" 

With  streaming  face  and  an  expression  of  agony,  Linton  had 
thrown  his  nerveless  frame  along  the  ground ;  he  seemed  con- 
vulsed with  exquisite  terror. 

"  Oh  !"  he  sobbed,  "  I  can  not  bear  it !  Catherine,  Catherine, 
I'm  a  traitor,  too,  and  I  dare  not  tell  you  !  But  leave  me  and 
I  shall  be  killed !  Dear  Catherine,  my  life  is  in  your  hands ; 
and  you  have  said  you  loved  me — and  if  you  did  it  wouldn't 
harm  you.  You'll  not  go,  then]  kind,  sweet,  good  Catherine  ! 
And  perhaps  you  will  consent — and  he'll  let  me  die  with  you  !" 

My  young  lady,  on  witnessing  his  intense  anguish,  stooped  to 
raise  him.  The  old  feeling  of  indulgent  tenderness  overcame 
her  vexation,  and  she  grew  thoroughly  moved  and  alarmed. 

"  Consent  to  what  ]"  she  asked.  "  To  stay  1  Tell  me  the 
meaning  of  this  strange  talk,  and  I  will.  You  contradict  your 
own  words,  and  distract  me !  Be  calm  and  frank,  and  confess 
at  once  all  that  weighs  on  your  heart.  You  wouldn't  injure  me, 
Linton,  would  you  1  You  wouldn't  let  any  enemy  hurt  me,  if 
you  could  prevent  it  1  I'll  believe  your  are  a  coward,  for  your- 
self, but  not  a  cowardly  betrayer  of  your  best  friend." 

"  But  my  father  threatened  me,"  gasped  the  boy,  clasping 
his  attenuated  fingers,  "  and  I  dread  him — I  dread  him  !  I  dare 
not  tell !" 

"  Oh,  well !"  said  Catherine,  with  scornful  compassion,  "  keep 
your  secret,  I'm  no  coward — save  yourself,  I'm  not  afraid  !" 


230  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

Her  magnanimity  provoked  his  tears ;  he  wept  wildly;  kiss- 
ing her  supporting  hands,  and  yet  could  not  summon  courage  to 
speak  out. 

I  was  cogitating  what  the  mystery  might  be,  and  determined 
Catherine  should  never  suffer,  to  benefit  him  or  any  one  else,  by 
my  good  will.  When,  hearing  a  rustle  among  the  ling,  I  looked 
up,  and  saw  Mr.  Heathcliff  almost  close  upon  us,  descending 
the  Heights.  He  didn't  cast  a  glance  toward  my  companions, 
though  they  were  sufficiently  near  for  Linton's  sobs  to  be  audi- 
ble ;  but  hailing  me,  in  the  almost  hearty  tone  he  assumed  to 
none  besides,  and  the  sincerity  of  which  I  couldn't  avoid  doubt- 
ing, he  said, 

"  It  is  something  to  see  you  so  near  to  my  house,  Nelly  ! 
How  are  you  at  the  Grange  ]  Let  us  hear  !  The  rumor  goes," 
he  added  in  a  lower  tone,  "  that  Edgar  Linton  is  on  his  death- 
bed— perhaps  they  exaggerate  his  illness]" 

"  No ;  my  master  is  dying,"  I  replied,  "  it  is  true  enough. 
A  sad  thing  it  will  be  for  us  all,  but  a  blessing  for  him  !" 

"  How  long  will  he  last,  do  you  think  1"  he  asked. 

"  I  don't  know,"  I  said. 

"  Because,"  he  continued,  looking  at  the  two  young  people, 
who  were  fixed  under  his  eye — Linton  appeared  as  if  he  could 
not  venture  to  stir,  or  raise  his  head,  and  Catherine  could  not 
move,  on  his  account — "  because  that  lad  yonder,  seems  deter- 
mined to  beat  me — and  I'd  thank  his  uncle  to  be  quick  and  go 
before  him.  Hallo !  Has  the  whelp  been  playing  that  game 
long1?  I  did  give  him  some  lessons  about  snivelling.  Is  he- 
pretty  lively  with  Miss  Linton  generally  V 

"  Lively  ]  no — he  has  shown  the  greatest  distress  ;"  I  answer- 
ed. "  To  see  him,  I  should  say  that,  instead  of  rambling  with 
his  sweetheart  on  the  hills,  he  ought  to  be  in  bed,  under  the 
hands  of  a  doctor." 

"  He  shall  be,  in  a  day  or  two,"  muttered  Heathcliff.  "  But 
first — get  up,  Linton  !  Get  up  !"  he  shouted.  "  Don't  grovel 
on  the  ground  there — up  this  moment !" 

Linton  had  sunk  prostrate  again  in  another  paroxysm  of 
helpless  fear,  caused  by  his  father's  glance  toward  him,  I  sup- 
pose; there  was  nothing  else  to  produce  such  humiliation.  He 
made  several  efforts  to  obey,  but  his  little  strength  was  anni- 
hilated, for  the  time,  and  he  fell  back  again  with  a  moan.  Mr. 
Heathcliff  advanced,  and  lifted  him  to  lean  against  a  ridge  of 
turf. 


WUTHER1NG     HEIGHTS.  231 

"  Now,"  said  he  with  curbed  ferocity,  "  I'm  getting  angry — 
and  if  you  don't  command  that  paltry  spirit  of  yours —  Damn 
you!     Get  up,  directly  !" 

"  I  will,  father  !"  he  panted.  "  Only,  let  me  alone,  or  I  shall 
faint !  I've  done  as  you  wished,  I'm  sure.  Catherine  will  tell 
you  that  I — that  I — have  been  cheerful.  Ah  !  keep  by  me, 
Catherine  ;  give  me  your  hand." 

"  Take  mine,"  said  his  father  ;  "  stand  on  your  feet !  There 
now — she'll  lend  you  her  arm — that's  right — look  at  her.  You 
would  imagine  I  was  the  devil  himself,  Miss  Linton,  to  excite 
such  horror.  Be  so  kind  as  to  walk  home  with  him,  will  you  % 
He  shudders  if  I  touch  him." 

"  Linton,  dear,"  whispered  Catherine,  "  I  can't  go  to  Wuth- 
ering  Heights — papa  has  forbidden  me.  He'll  not  harm  you, 
why  are  you  so  afraid  !" 

"  I  can  never  re  enter  that  house,"  he  answered.  "  I  am  not 
to  re-enter  it  without  you." 

"Stop — "  cried  his  father.  "We'll  respect  Catherine's  filial 
scruples.  Nelly,  take  him  in,  and  I'll  follow  your  advice  con- 
cerning the  doctor,  without  delay." 

"You'll  do  well,"  replied  I,  "but  I  must  remain  with  my 
mistress.     To  mind  your  son  is  not  my  business." 

"You  are  very  stiff!"  said  Heathcliff,  "I  know  that — but 
you'll  force  me  to  pinch  the  baby,  and  make  it  scream,  before  it 
moves  your  charity.  Come,  then,  my  hero,  are  you  willing  to 
return,  escorted  by  me  t" 

He  approached  once  more,  and  made  as  if  he  would  seize 
the  fragile  being  ;  but  shrinking  back,  Linton  clung  to  his  cousin, 
and  implored  her  to  accompany  him,  with  a  frantic  importunity 
that  admitted  no  denial. 

However  I  disapproved,  I  couldn't  hinder  her;  indeed  how 
could  she  have  refused  him  herself?  What  was  filling  him  with 
dread  we  had  no  means  of  discerning ;  but  there  he  was,  pow- 
erless under  its  gripe,  and  any  addition  seemed  capable  of 
shocking  him  into  idiocy.  We  reached  the  threshold  ;  Cathe- 
rine walked  in ;  and  I  stood  waiting  till  she  had  conducted  the 
invalid  to  a  chair,  expecting  her  out  immediately,  when  Mr. 
Heathcliff,  pushing  me  forward,  exclaimed, — 

"My  house  is  not  stricken  with  the  plague,  Nelly;  and  I 
have  a  mind  to  be  hospitable  to-day ;  sit  down,  and  allow  me  to 
shut  the  door." 

He  shut  and  locked  it  also.     I  started. 


232  WUTHER1NG      HEIGHTS. 

"You  shall  have  tea  before  you  go  home,"  he  added.  "I 
am  by  myself.  Hareton  is  gone  with  some  cattle  to  the  Lees 
— and  Zillah  and  Joseph  are  off  on  a  journey  of  pleasure.  And, 
though  I'm  used  to  being  alone,.  I'd  rather  have  some  interesting 
company  if  I  can  get  it.  Miss  Linton,  take  your  seat  by  him. 
I  give  you  what  I  have ;  the  present  is  hardly  worth  accepting ; 
but  I  have  nothing  else  to  offer — it  is  Linton  I  mean.  How 
she  does  stare  !  It's  odd  what  a  savage  feeling  I  have  to  any 
thing  that  seems  afraid  of  me  !  Had  I  been  born  where  laws 
are  less  strict,  and  tastes  less  dainty,  I  should  treat  myself  to  a 
slow  vivifisection  of  those  two,  as  an  evening's  amusement." 

He  drew  in  his  breath,  struck  the  table,  and  swore  to  him- 
self, 

"  By  hell !  I  hate  them." 

"  I'm  not  afraid  of  you  !"  exclaimed  Catherine,  who  could 
not  hear  the  latter  part  of  his  speech. 

She  stepped  close  up;  her  black  eyes  flashing  with  passion 
and  resolution. 

"  Grive  me  that  key — I  will  have  it !"  she  said.  "  I  wouldn't 
eat  or  drink  here  if  I  were  starving." 

Heathcliff  had  the  key  in  his  hand  that  remained  on  the 
table.  He  looked  up,  seized  with  a  sort  of  surprise  at  her 
boldness,  or,  possibly,  reminded,  by  her  voice  and  glance,  of  the 
person  from  whom  she  inherited  it. 

She  snatched  at  the  instrument,  and  half  succeeded  in  getting 
it  out  of  his  loosened  fingers  ;  but  her  action  recalled  him  to  the 
present ;  he  recovered  it  speedily. 

"Now,  Catherine  Linton,"  he  said,  "stand  off,  or  I  shall 
knock  you  down;  and  that  will  make  Mrs.  Dean  mad." 

Regardless  of  this  warning,  she  captured  his  closed  hand,  and 
its  contents  again. 

"We  will  go!"  she  repeated,  exerting  her  utmost  efforts  to 
cause  the  iron  muscles  to  relax  ;  and  finding  that  her  nails  made 
no  impression,  she  applied  her  teeth  pretty  sharply. 

Heathcliff  glanced  at  me  a  glance  that  kept  me  from  interfering 
a  moment.  Catherine  was  too  intent  on  his  fingers  to  notice  his 
face.  He  opened  them,  suddenly,  and  resigned  the  object  of 
dispute;  but,  ere  she  had  well  secured  it,  he  seized  her  with  the 
liberated  hand,  and,  pulling  her  on  his  knee,  administered,  with 
the  other,  a  shower  of  terrific  slaps  on  both  sides  of  the  head, 
each  sufficient  to  have  fulfilled  his  threat,  had  she  been  able  to 
fall. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  233 

At  this  diabolical  violence,  I  rushed  on  him  furiously, 

"  You  villain  !"  I  began  to  cry,  "  you  villain  !" 

A  touch  on  the  chest  silenced  me ;  I  am  stout,  and  soon  put 
out  of  breath;  and,  what  with  that  and  the  rage,  I  staggered 
dizzily  back,  and  felt  ready  to  suffocate,  or  to  burst  a  blood- 
vessel. 

The  scene  was  over  in  two  minutes;  Catherine,  released, 
put  her  two  hands  to  her  temples,  and  looked  just  as  if  she  were 
not  sure  whether  her  ears  were  off  or  on.  She  trembled  like  a 
reed,  poor  thing,  and  leaned  against  the  table  perfectly  bewil- 
dered. 

"  I  know  how  to  chastise  children,  you  see,"  said  the  scoun- 
drel, grimly,  as  he  stooped  to  repossess  himself  of  the  key, 
which  had  dropped  to  the  floor.  "  Go  to  Linton  now,  as  I  told 
you;  and  cry  at  your  ease  !  I  shall  be  your  father  to-morrow 
— all  the  father  you'll  have  in  a  few  days — and  you  shall  have 
plenty  of  that — you  can  bear  plenty — you're  no  weakling — you 
shall  have  a  daily  taste,  if  I  catch  such  a  devil  of  a  temper  in 
your  eyes  again !" 

Cathy  ran  to  me  instead  of  Linton,  and  knelt  down,  and  put 
her  burning  cheek  on  my  lap,  weeping  aloud.  Her  cousin  had 
shrunk  into  a  corner  of  the  settle,  as  quiet  as  a  mouse,  con- 
gratulating himself,  I  dare  say,  that  the  correction  had  lighted 
on  another  than  him. 

Mr.  Heath  cliff,  perceiving  us  all  confounded,  rose,  and  ex- 
peditiously made  the  tea  himself.  The  cups  and  saucers  were 
laid  ready.     He  poured  it  out,  and  handed  me  a  cup. 

"  Wash  away  your  spleen,"  he  said.  "  And  help  your  own 
naughty  pet  and  mine.  It  is  not  poisoned,  though  I  prepared  it. 
I'm  going  out  to  seek  your  horses." 

Our  first  thought,  on  his  departure,  was  to  force  an  exit 
somewhere.  We  tried  the  kitchen  door,  but  that  was  fastened 
outside ;  we  looked  at  the  windows — they  were  too  narrow  for 
even  Cathy's  little  figure. 

"  Master  Linton,"  I  cried,  seeing  we  were  regularly  imprison- 
ed, "  you  know  what  your  diabolical  father  is  after,  and  you 
shall  tell  us,  or  I'll  box  your  ears,  as  he  has  done  your 
cousin's." 

"Yes,  Linton;  you  must  tell,"  said  Catherine.  "It  was  for 
your  sake  I  came ;  and  it  will  be  wickedly  ungrateful  if  you 
refuse." 

"  Give  me  some,  tea,  I'm  thirsty,  and  then   I'll  tell  you," 


234  WUTHERING       HEIGHTS. 

he  answered.  "  Mrs.  Dean,  go  away.  I  don't  like  you  stand- 
ing over  me.  Now,  Catherine,  you  are  letting  your  tears  fall 
into  my  cap  !"     I  won't  drink  that.     Give  me  another." 

Catherine  pushed  another  to  him,  and  wiped  her  face.  I  felt 
disgusted  at  the  little  wretch's  composure,  since  he  was  no 
longer  in  terror  for  himself.  The  anguish  he  had  exhibited  on 
the  moor  subsided  as  soon  as  ever  he  entered  Wuthering  Heights; 
so  I  guessed  he  had  been  menaced  with  an  awful  visitation  of 
wrath,  if  he  failed  in  decoying  us  there  ;  and,  that  accomplished, 
he  had  no  further  immediate  fears. 

"  Papa  wants  us  to  be  married,"  he  continued,  after  sipping 
some  of  the  liquid.  "  And  he  knows  your  papa  wouldn't  let  us 
marry  now  ;  and  he's  afraid  of  my  dying  if  we  wait ;  so  we  are 
to  be  married  in  the  morning,  and  you  are  to  stay  here  all  night ; 
and  if  you  do  as  he  wishes  you  shall  return  home  next  day,  and 
take  me  with  you." 

"  Take  you  with  her,  pitiful  changeling  V  I  exclaimed. 
44  You  marry  %  Why,  the  man  is  mad,  or  he  thinks  us  fools, 
every  one.  And  do  you  imagine  that  beautiful  young  lady,  that 
healthy,  hearty  girl,  will  tie  herself  to  a  little  perishing  monkey 
like  you  ]  Are  you  cherishing  the  notion  that  any  body,  let  alone 
Miss  Catherine  Linton,  would  have  you  for  a  husband  %  You 
want  whipping  for  bringing  us  in  here  at  all,  with  your  dastardly, 
puling  tricks  ;  and — don't  look  so  silly  now  !  I've  a  very  good 
mind  to  shake  you  severely,  for  your  contemptible  treachery, 
and  your  imbecile  conceit." 

I  did  give  him  a  slight  shaking,  but  it  brought  on  the  cough, 
and  he  took  to  his  ordinary  resource  of  moaning  and  weeping, 
and  Catherine  rebuked  me. 

44  Stay  all  night]  No!"  she  said,  looking  slowly  round. 
"  Ellen,  I'll  burn  that  door  down,  but  I'll  get  out." 

And  she  would  have  commenced  the  execution  of  her  threat 
directly,  but  Linton  was  up  in  alarm,  for  his  dear  self,  again.  He 
clasped  her  in  his  two  feeble  arms,  sobbing — 

"  Won't  you  have  me,  and  save  me — not  let  me  come  to  the 
Grange  ]  Oh !  darling  Catherine !  you  mustn't  go,  and  leave 
me,  after  all.     You  must  obey  my  father,  you  must  /" 

"  I  must  obey  my  own,"  she  replied,  "  and  relieve  him  from 
this  cruel  suspense.  The  whole  night !  What  would  he  think  % 
He'll  be  distressed  already.  "  I'll  either  break  or  burn  a  way 
out  of  the  house.  Be  quiet !  You're  in  no  danger — but  if  you 
hinder  me,  Linton — I  love  papa  better  than  you  !" 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  235 

The  mortal  terror  he  felt  of  Mr.  HeathclifFs  anger,  restored 
to  the  boy  his  coward's  eloquence.  Catherine  was  near  dis- 
traught— still  she  persisted  that  she  must  go  home,  and  tried 
entreaty,  in  her  turn,  persuading  him  to  subdue  his  selfish  agony. 

While  they  were  thus  occupied,  our  jailer  re-entered. 

"  Your  beasts  have  trotted  off,"  he  said ;  "  and — now,  Lin- 
ton !  sniveling  again  1  What  has  she  been  doiifg  to  you  ]  Come, 
come,  have  done,  and  get  to  bed.  In  a  month  or  two,  my  lad, 
you'll  be  able  to  pay  her  back  her  present  tyrannies,  with  a  vig- 
orous hand — you're  pining  for  pure  love,  are  you  not  ?  nothing 
else  in  the  world — and  she  shall  have  you  !  There,  to  bed  ! 
Zillah  won't  be  here  to  night — you  must  undress  yourself. 
Hush  !  hold  your  noise  !  Once  in  your  own  room,  I'll  not  come 
near  you,  you  needn't  fear.  By  chance,  you've  managed  toler- 
ably.    I'll  look  to  the  rest." 

He  spoke  these  words,  holding  the  door  open  for  his  son  to 
pass ;  and  the  latter  achieved  his  exit  exactly  as  a  spaniel  might 
which  suspected  the  person  who  attended  on  it  of  designing  a 
spiteful  squeeze. 

The  lock  was  re-secured.  Heathcliff  approached  the  fire, 
where  my  mistress  and  I  stood  silent.  Catherine  looked  up, 
and  instinctively  raised  her  hand  to  her  cheek — his  neighbor- 
hood revived  a  painful  sensation.  Any  body  else  would  have 
been  incapable  of  regarding  the  childish  act  with  sternness,  but 
he  scowled  on  her,  and  muttered — 

"  Oh,  you  are  not  afraid  of  me  1  Your  courage  is  well  dis- 
guised— you  seem  damnably  afraid  !" 

"  I  am  afraid  now,"  she  replied  ;  "  because  if  I  stay,  papa 
will  be  miserable  ;  and  how  can  I  endure  making  him  miserable 
— when  he — when  he — Mr.  Heathcliff,  let  me  go  home  !  I 
promise  to  marry  Linton — papa  would  like  me  to,  and  I  love 
him — and  why  should  you  wish  to  force  me  to  do  what  I'll 
willingly  do  of  myself?" 

"  Let  him  dare  to  force  you !"  I  cried.  "  There's  law  in  the 
land,  thank  God,  there  is !  though  we  be  in  an  out-of-the-way 
place.  I'd  inform,  if  he  were  my  own  son,  and  it's  felony 
without  benefit  of  clergy  !" 

"  Silence  !"  said  the  ruffian.  "  To  the  devil  with  your  clamor ! 
I  don't  want  you  to  speak.  Miss  Linton,  I  shall  enjoy  myself 
remarkably  in  thinking  your  father  will  be  miserable ;  I  shall 
not  sleep  for  satisfaction.  You  could  have  hit  on  no  surer  way 
of  fixing  your  residence  under  my  roof,  for  the  next  twenty- 


236  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

four  hours,  than  informing  me  that  such  an  event  would  follow. 
As  to  your  promise  to  marry  Linton,  I'll  take  care  you  shall 
keep  it,  for  you  shall  not  quit  the  place  till  it  is  fulfilled." 

"  Send  Ellen  then,  to  let  papa  know  I'm  safe !"  exclaimed 
Catherine,  weeping  bitterly.  "  Or  many  me  now.  Poor  papa ! 
Ellen,  he'll  think  we're  lost.     What  shall  we  do  f 

"  Not  he  !  He'll  think  you  are  tired  of  waiting  on  him,  and 
run  off  for  a  little  amusement,"  answered  Heathcliff.  "  You 
can  not  deny  that  you  entered  my  house  of  your  own  accord,  in 
contempt  of  his  injunctions  to  the  contrary.  And  it  is  quite 
natural  that  you  should  desire  amusement  at  your  age ;  and  that 
you  should  weary  of  nursing  a  sick  man,  and  that  man  only 
your  father.  Catherine,  his  happiest  days  were  over  when  your 
days  began.  He  cursed  you,  I  dare  say,  for  coming  into  the 
world — -I  did,  at  least.  And  it  would  just  do  if  he  cursed  you 
as  he  went  out  of  it.  I'd  join  him.  I  don't  love  you  !  How 
should  I  %  Weep  away.  As  far  as  I  can  see,  it  will  be  your 
chief  diversion  hereafter,  unless  Linton  make  amends  for  other 
losses,  and  your  provident  parent  appears  to  fancy  he  may. 
His  letters  of  advice  and  consolation  entertained  me  vastly.  In 
his  last,  he  recommended  my  jewel  to  be  careful  of  his ;  and 
kind  to  her  when  he  got  her.  Careful  and  kind — that's  paternal ! 
But  Linton  requires  his  whole  stock  of  care  and  kindness  for 
himself.  Linton  can  play  the  little  tyrant  well.  He'll  under- 
take to  torture  any  number  of  cats,  if  their  teeth  be  drawn  and 
their  claws  pared.  You'll  be  able  to  tell  his  uncle  fine  tales  of 
his  kindness,  when  you  get  home  again,  I  assure  you." 

"  You're  right  there !"  I  said,  "  explain  your  son's  character. 
Show  his  resemblance  to  yourself;  and  then,  I  hope,  Miss 
Cathy  will  think  twice,  before  she  takes  the  cockatrice !" 

"  I  don't  much  mind  speaking  of  his  amiable  qualities  now," 
he  answered,  "because  she  must  either  accept  him,  or  remain 
a  prisoner,  and  you  along  with  her,  till  your  master  dies.  I 
can  detain  you  both,  quite  concealed,  here.  If  you  doubt, 
encourage  her  to  retract  her  word,  and  you'll  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  judging!" 

"I'll  not  retract  my  word,"  said  Catherine.  "I'll  marry 
him,  within  this  hour,  if  I  may  go  to  Thrushcross  Grange  after- 
ward. Mr.  Heathcliff,  you're  a  cruel  man,  but  you're  not  a 
fiend ;  and  you  won't,  from  mere  malice,  destroy,  irrevocably, 
all  my  happiness.  If  papa  thought  I  had  left  him  on  purpose ; 
and  if  he  died  before  I  returned,  could  I  bear  to  live  %     I've 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  237 

given  over  crying ;  but  I'm  going  to  kneel  here,  at  your  knee ; 
and  I'll  not  get  up,  and  I'll  not  take  my  eyes  from  your  face, 
till  you  look  back  at  me !  No,  don't  turn  away !  do  look ! 
You'll  see  nothing  to  provoke  you.  I  don't  hate  you.  I'm  not 
angry  that  you  struck  me.  Have  you  never  loved  any  body,  in 
all  your  life,  uncle  ]  never  ?  Ah  !  you  must  look  once — I'm  so 
wretched — you  can't  help  being  sorry  and  pitying  me." 

11  Keep  your  eft's  fingers  off;  and  move,  or  I'll  kick  you  !" 
cried  Heathcliff,  brutally  repulsing  her.  "  I'd  rather  be  hugged 
by  a  snake.  How  the  devil  can  you  dream  of  fawning  on  me  ] 
I  detest  you  !" 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders — shook  himself,  indeed,  as  if  his 
flesh  crept  with  aversion — and  thrust  back  his  chair  :  while  I 
got  up,  and  opened  my  mouth  to  commence  a  downright  tor- 
rent of  abuse;  but  I  was  rendered  dumb  in  the  middle  of  the 
first  sentence,  by  a  threat  that  I  should  be  shown  into  a  room 
by  myself,  the  very  next  syllable  I  uttered. 

It  was  growing  dark — we  heard  a  sound  of  voices  at  the  gar- 
den gate.  Our  host  hurried  out,  instantly ;  he  had  his  wits  about 
him ;  we  had  not.  There  was  a  talk  of  two  or  three  minutes, 
and  he  returned  alone. 

"  I  thought  it  had  been  your  cousin  Hareton,"  I  observed  to 
Catherine.  "  I  wish  he  would  arrive !  Who  knows  but  he 
might  take  our  part  I" 

"It  was  three  servants  sent  to  seek  you  from  the  Grange," 
said  Heathcliff,  overhearing  me.  "  You  should  have  opened  a 
lattice  and  called  out;  but  I  could  swear  that  chit  is  glad  you 
didn't.     She's  glad  to  be  obliged  to  stay,  I'm  certain." 

At  learning  the  chance  we  had  missed,  we  both  gave  vent  to 
our  grief  without  control ;  and  he  allowed  us  to  wail  on  till  nine 
o'clock;  then  he  bid  us  go  up-stairs,  through  the  kitchen,  to 
Zillah's  chamber;  and  I  whispered  my  companion  to  obey; 
perhaps  we  might  contrive  to  get  through  the  window  there,  or 
into  a  garret,  and  out  by  its  skylight. 

The  window,  however,  was  narrow  like  those  below,  and  the 
garret  trap  was  safe  from  our  attempts  ;  for  we  were  fastened 
in  as  before.  We  neither  of  us  lay  down  :  Catherine  took  her 
station  by  the  lattice,  and  watched  anxiously  for  morning — a 
deep  sigh  being  the  only  answer  I  could  obtain  to  my  frequent 
entreaties  that  she  would  try  to  rest. 

I  seated  myself  in  a  chair,  and  rocked  to  and  fro,  passing 
harsh  judgment  on  my  many  derelictions  of  duty;  from  which, 


238  WUTHERING       HEIGHTS. 

it  struck  me  then,  all  the  misfortunes  of  all  my  employers  sprang. 
It  was  not  the  case,  in  reality,  I  am  aware ;  but  it  was,  in  my 
imagination,  that  dismal  night,  and  I  thought  Heathcliff  himself 
less  guilty  than  I. 

At  seven  o'clock  he  came,  and  inquired  if  Miss  Linton  had 
risen.     She  ran  to  the  door  immediately,  and  answered — 

"Yes." 

"  Here,  then,"  he  said,  opening  it,  and  pulling  her  out. 

I  rose  to  follow,  but  he  turned  the  lock  again.  I  demanded 
my  release. 

"  Be  patient,"  he  replied ;  I'll  send  up  your  breakfast  in  a 
while." 

I  thumped  on  the  panels,  and  rattled  the  latch  angrily ;  and 
Catherine  asked  why  I  was  still  shut  up  1  He  answered,  I  must 
try  to  endure  it  another  hour,  and  they  went  away.  I  endured 
it  two  or  three  hours ;  at  length,  I  heard  a  footstep,  not  Heath- 
cliff's. 

"I've  brought  you  something  fo  eat,"  said  a  voice;  "  oppen 
t'  door!" 

Complying  eagerly,  I  beheld  Hareton,  laden  with  food  enough 
to  last  me  all  day. 

"  Tak  it!"  he  added,  thrusting  the  tray  into  my  hand. 

"  Stay  one  minute,"  I  began. 

"  Nay !"  cried  he,  and  retired,  regardless  of  any  prayers  I 
could  pour  forth  to  detain  him. 

"  And  there  I  remained  inclosed  the  whole  day,  and  the 
whole  of  the  next  night;  and  another  and  another.  Five  nights 
and  four  days  I  remained,  altogether,  seeing  nobody  but  Hare- 
ton,  once  every  morning ;  and  he  was  a  model  of  a  jailer — surly, 
and  dumb,  and  deaf  to  every  attempt  at  moving  his  sense  of  jus- 
tice or  compassion 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

On  the  fifth  morning,  or  rather  afternoon,  a  different  step  ap- 
proached—lighter and  shorter — and,  this  time,  the  person  entered 
the  room.  It  was  Zillah ;  donned  in  her  scarlet  shawl,  with  a 
black  silk  bonnet  on  her  head,  and  a  willow  basket  swung  to 
her  arm. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  239 

"  Eh,  dear  !"  Mrs.  Dean,"  she  exclaimed.  "  Well !  there  is 
a  talk  about  you  at  Gimmerton.  I  never  thought  but  you  were 
sunk  in  the  Blackhorse  marsh,  and  Missy  with  you,  till  master 
told  me  you'd  been  found,  and  he'd  lodged  you  here  1  What, 
and  you  must  have  got  on  an  island,  sure  \  And  how  long  were 
you  in  the  hole  %  Did  master  save  you,  Mrs.  Dean  ]  But 
you're  not  so  thin — you've  not  been  so  poorly,  have  you  1" 

"  Your  master  is  a  true  scoundrel !"  I  replied.  "  But  he  shall 
answer  for  it.  He  needn't  have  raised  that  tale — it  shall  all  be 
laid  bare !" 

"  What  do  you  mean  V  asked  Zillah.  "  It's  not  his  tale — 
they  tell  that  in  the  village — about  your  being  lost  in  the  marsh ; 
and  I  calls  to  Earnshaw,  when  I  come  in — 

" '  Eh,  they's  queer  things,  Mr.  Hareton,  happened  since  I 
went  off.  It's  a  sad  pity  of  that  likely  young  lass,  and  cant 
Nelly  Dean.' 

"  He  stared.  I  thought  he  had  not  heard  aught,  so  I  told  him 
the  rumor. 

M  The  master  listened,  and  he  just  smiled  to  himself,  and  said — 

" '  If  they  have  been  in  the  marsh,  they  are  out  now,  Zillah. 
Nelly  Dean  is  lodged,  at  this  minute,  in  your  room.  You  can 
tell  her  to  flit,  when  you  go  up  ;  here  is  the  key.  The  bog- 
water  got  into  her  head,  and  she  would  have  run  home,  quite 
flighty,  but  I  fixed  her,  till  she  came  round  to  her  senses.  You 
can  bid  her  go  to  the  Grange  at  once,  if  she  be  able,  and  carry 
a  message  from  me,  that  her  young  lady  will  follow  in  time  to 
attend  the  squire's  funeral.'  " 

"  Mr.  Edgar  is  not  dead  V  I  gasped.     "  Oh !  Zillah,  Zillah  !" 

"  No,  no — -sit  you  down,  my  good  mistress,"  she  replied, 
"  you're  right  sickly  yet.  He's  not  dead :  Doctor  Kenneth 
thinks  he  may  last  another  day — I  met  him  on  the  road  and 
asked." 

Instead  of  sitting  down,  I  snatched  my  outdoor  things,  and 
hastened  below,  for  the  way  was  free. 

On  entering  the  house,  I  looked  about  for  some  one  to  give 
information  of  Catherine. 

The  place  was  filled  with  sunshine,  and  the  door  stood  wide 
open,  but  nobody  seemed  at  hand. 

As  I  hesitated  whether  to  go  off  at  once,  or  return  and  seek 
my  mistress,  a  slight  cough  drew  my  attention  to  the  hearth. 

Linton  lay  on  the  settle,  sole  tenant,  sucking  a  stick  of  sugar- 
candy,  and  pursuing  my  movements  with  apathetic  eyes. 


240  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  Where  is  Miss  Catherine  V  I  demanded  sternly,  supposing 
I  could  frighten  him  into  giving  intelligence,  by  catching  him 
thus  alone. 

He  sucked  like  an  innocent. 

"  Is  she  gone  1"  I  said. 

"No,"  he  replied;  "she's  up-stairs — she's  not  to  go;  we 
won't  let  her." 

"  You  won't  let  her,  little  idiot !"  I  exclaimed.  "  Direct  me 
to  her  room  immediately,  or  I'll  make  you  sing  out  sharply." 

"Papa  would  make  you  sing  out,  if  you  attempted  to  get 
there,"  he  answered.  "  He  says  I'm  not  to  be  soft  with  Cath- 
erine— she's  my  wife,  and  it's  shameful  that  she  should  wish  to 
leave  me !  He  says,  she  hates  me,  and  wants  me  to  die,  that 
she  may  have  my  money, but  she  shan't  have  it;  and  she  shan't 
go  home !  she  never  shall !  she  may  cry,  and  be  sick  as  much  as 
she  pleases !" 

He  resumed  his  former  occupation,  closing  his  lids,  as  if  he 
meant  to  drop  asleep. 

"  Master  Heathcliff,"  I  resumed,  "  have  you  forgotten  all  Cath- 
erine's kindness  to  you,  last  winter,  whtm  you  affirmed  you 
loved  her,  and  when  she  brought  you  books,  and  sung  you 
songs,  and  came  many  a  time  through  wind  and  snow  to  see 
you  ]  She  wept  to  miss  one  evening,  because  you  would  be 
disappointed ;  and  you  felt  then  that  she  was  a  hundred  times 
too  good  to  you  ;  and  now  you  believe  the  lies  your  father  tells, 
though  you  know  he  detests  you  both !  And  you  join  him 
against  her.     That's  fine  gratitude,  is  it  not  ?" 

The  corner  of  Linton's  mouth  fell,  and  he  took  the  sugar- 
candy  from  his  lips. 

"  Did  she  come  to  Wuthering  Heights,  because  she  hated 
you  V'  I  continued.  "  Think  for  yourself!  As  to  your  money, 
she  does  not  even  know  that  you  will  have  any.  And  you  say 
she's  sick ;  and  yet,  you  leave  her  alone,  up  there  in  a  strange 
house!  You,  who  have  felt  what  it  is  to  be  so  neglected! 
You  could  pity  your  own  sufferings,  and  she  pitied  them,  too, 
but  you  won't  pity  hers!  I  shed  tears  Master  Heathcliff,  you 
see — an  elderly  woman,  and  a  servant  merely — and  you,  after 
pretending  such  affection,  and  having  reason  to  worship  her,  al- 
most, store  every  tear  you  have  for  yourself,  and  lie  there  quite 
at  ease.     Ah  !  you're  a  heartless,  selfish  boy  !" 

"  I  can't  stay  with  her,"  he  answered  crossly.  "I'll  not  stay, 
by  myself.     She  cries  so  I  can't  bear  it.     And  she  won't  give 


WUTIIERINQ      HEIGHTS.  241 

over,  though  I  say  I'll  call  my  father.  I  did  call  him  once ; 
and  he  threatened  to  strangle  her,  if  she  was  not  quiet ;  but  she 
began  again  thein  stant,  he  left  the  room ;  moaning  and  griev- 
ing all  night  long,  though  I  screamed  for  vexation  that  I  couldn't 
sleep." 

"Is  Mr.  Heathcliff  out,"  I  inquired,  perceiving  that  the 
wretched  creature  had  no  power  to  sympathize  with  his  cous- 
in's mental  tortures. 

"  He's  in  the  court,"  he  replied,  "  talking  to  Doctor  Kenneth 
who  says  uncle  is  dying,  truly,  at  last.  I'm  glad,  for  I  shall  be 
master  of  the  Grange  after  him — Catherine  always  spoke  of  it 
as  her  house.  It  isn't  hers  !  It's  mine — papa  says  every  thing 
she  has  is  mine.  All  her  nice  books  are  mine — she  offered  to 
give  me  them,  and  her  pretty  birds,  and  her  pony  Minny,  if  I 
would  get  the  key  of  our  room,  and  let  her  out :  but  I  told  her 
she  had  nothing  to  give,  they  were  all,  all  mine.  And  then  she 
cried,  and  took  a  little  picture  from  her  neck,  and  said  I  should 
have  that — two  pictures  in  a  gold  case — on  one  side  her  mother, 
and  on  the  other,  uncle,  when  they  were  young.  That  was 
yesterday.  I  said  they  were  mine,  too ;  and  tried  to  get  them 
from  her.  The  spiteful  thing  wouldn't  let  me ;  she  pushed  me 
off,  and  hurt  me.  I  shrieked  out — that  frightens  her — she  heard 
papa  coming,  and  she  broke  the  hinges  and  divided  the  case, 
and  gave  me  her  mother's  portrait ;  the  other  she  attempted  to 
hide  ;  but  papa  asked  what  was  the  matter,  and  I  explained  it. 
He  took  the  one  I  had  away  ;  and  ordered  her  to  resign  hers  to 
me  ;  she  refused,  and  he — he  struck  her  down,  and  wrenched 
it  off  the  chain,  and  crushed  it  with  his  foot." 

"And  were  you  pleased  to  see  her  struck1?"  I  asked :  having 
my  designs  in  encouraging  his  talk. 

"I  winked,"  he  answered.  "  I  wink  to  see  my  father  stiike 
a  dog,  or  a  horse,  he  does  it  so  hard — yet  I  was  glad  at  first — 
she  deserved  punishing  for  pushing  me :  but  when  papa  was 
gone  she  made  me  come  to  the  window  and  showed  me  her 
cheek  cut  on  the  inside  against  her  teeth,  and  her  mouth  filling 
with  blood  :  and  then  she  gathered  up  the  bits  of  the  picture, 
and  went  and  sat  down  with  her  face  to  the  wall,  and  she  has 
never  spoken  to  me  since ;  and  I  sometimes  think  she  can't 
speak  for  pain.  I  don't  like  to  think  so !  but  she's  a  naughty 
thing  for  crying  continually ;  and  she  looks  so  pale  and  wild, 
I'm  afraid  of  her !" 

t   "And  you  can  get  the  key  if  you  choose!"  I  said. 

L 


24f  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  Yes,  when  I  am  up-stairs,"  he  answered,  "  but  I  can't  walk 
up-stairs  now." 

"  In  what  apartment  is  it  V1  I  asked. 

"Oh,"  he  cried,  "I  shan't  tell  you  where  it  is!  It  is  our 
secret.  Nobody,  neither  Hareton  nor  Zillah,  are  to  know. 
There  !  you've  tired  me— -go  away,  go  away!"  And  he  turned 
his  face  upon  his  arm,  and  shut  his  eyes  again. 

I  considered  it  best  to  depart  without  seeing  Mr.  Heathcliff; 
and  bring  a  rescue  for  my  young  lady  from  the  Grange. 

On  reaching  it,  the  astonishment  of  my  fellow  servants  to  see 
me,  and  their  joy  also,  was  intense ;  and  when  they  heard  that 
their  little  mistress  was  safe,  two  or  three  were  about  to  hurry 
up,  and  shout  the  news  at  Mr.  Edgar's  door :  but  I  bespoke 
the  announcement  of  it  myself. 

How  changed  I  found  him,  even  in  those  few  days !  He  lay 
an  image  of  sadness  and  resignation,  waiting  his  death.  Very 
young  he  looked  :  though  his  actual  age  was  thirty-nine ;  one 
would  have  called  him  ten  years  younger,  at  least.  He  thought 
of  Catherine,  for  he  murmured  her  name.  I  touched  his  hand 
and  spoke. 

"Catherine  is  coming,  dear  master!"  I  whispered;  "  she  is 
alive  and  well,  and  will  be  here  I  hope  to-night." 

I  trembled  at  the  first  effects  of  this  intelligence  :  he  half  rose 
up,  looked  eagerly  round  the  apartment,  and  then  sunk  back  in 
a  swoon. 

As  soon  as  he  recovered  I  related  our  compulsory  visit  and 
detention  at  the  Heights :  I  said  Heathcliff  forced  me  to  go  in, 
which  was  not  quite  true ;  I  uttered  as  little  as  possible  against 
Linton ;  nor  did  I  describe  all  his  father's  brutal  conduct— my 
intentions  being  to  add  no  bitterness,  if  I  could  help  it,  to  his 
already  overflowing  cup. 

He  divined  that  one  of  his  enemy's  purposes  was  to  secure 
the  personal  property  as  well  as  the  estate  to  his  son,  or  rather 
himself;  yet  why  he  did  not  wait  till  his  decease  was  a  puzzle 
to  my  master ;  because  ignorant  how  nearly  he  and  his  nephew 
would  quit  the  world  together. 

However,  he  felt  his  will  had  better  be  altered;  instead 
of  leaving  Catherine's  fortune  at  her  own  disposal,  he  de- 
termined to  put  it  in  the  hands  of  trustees,  for  her  use  during 
life ;  and  for  her  children,  if  she  had  any,  after  her.  By  that 
means  it  could  not  fall  to  Mr.  Heathcliff,  should  Linton  die. 

Having  received,  his  orders  I  dispatched  a  man  to  fetch  the 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  243 

attorney,  and  four  more,  provided  with  serviceable  weapons,  to 
demand  my  young  lady  of  her  jailer.  Both  parties  were  de- 
layed very  late.      The  single  servant  returned  first. 

He  said  Mr.  Green,  the  lawyer,  was  out  when  he  arrived  at 
his  house,  and  he  had  to  wait  two  hours  for  his  re-entrance  ;  and 
then  Mr.  Green  told  him  he  had  a  little  business  in  the  village 
that  must  be  done,  but  he  would  be  at  Thrushcross  Grange  be- 
fore morning. 

The  four  men  came  back  unaccompanied  also.  They  brought 
word  that  Catherine  was  ill ;  too  ill  to  quit  her  room:  and  Heath- 
cliff  would  not  suffer  them  to  see  her. 

I  scolded  the  stupid  fellows  well  for  listening  t®  that  tale, 
which  I  would  not  carry  to  my  master,  resolving  to  take  a 
whole  bevy  up  to  the  Heights,  at  daylight,  and  storm  it  literally, 
unless  the  prisoner  were  quietly  surrendered  to  us. 

Her  father  shall  see  her,  I  vowed,  and  vowed  again,  if  that 
devil  be  killed  on  his  own  door-stones  in  trying  to  prevent  it ! 

Happily  I  was  spared  the  journey  and  the  trouble. 

I  had  gone  down  stairs  at  three  o'clock  to  fetch  a  jug  of  wa- 
ter; and  was  passing  through  the  hall  with  it  in  my  hand,  when 
a  sharp  knock  at  the  front  door  made  me  jump. 

"  Oh  !  it  is  Green,"  I  said,  recollecting  myself,  "  only  Green" 
— and  I  went  on,  intending  to  send  somebody  else  to  open  it; 
but  the  knock  was  repeated,  not  loud,  and  still  importunately. 

I  put  the  jug  on  the  bannister,  and  hastened  to  admit  him 
myself. 

The  harvest  moon  shone  clear  outside.  It  was  not  the  at- 
torney.    My  sweet  little  mistress  sprung  on  my  neck,  sobbing, 

"  Ellen !  Ellen  !  is  papa  alive  V 

"  Yes,"  I  cried,  "  yes  my  angel  he  is.  God  be  thanked,  you 
are  safe  with  us  again  !" 

She  wanted  to  run,  breathless  as  she  was,  up-stairs  to  Mr. 
Linton's  room  ;  but  I  compelled  her  to  sit  down  on  a  chair,  and 
made  her  drink,  and  washed  her  pale  face,  chafing  it  into  a  faint 
color  with  my  apron.  Then  I  said  I  must  go  first,  and  tell  of 
her  arrival;  imploring  her  to  say  she  would  be  happy  with 
young  Heathcliff.  She  stared,  but  soon  comprehending  why  I 
counselled  her  to  utter  the  falsehood,  she  assured  me  she  would 
not  complain. 

I  couldn't  abide  to  be  present  at  their  meeting.  I  stood  out- 
side the  chamber-door  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  hardly  ventured 
near  the  bed  then. 


244  WUTHERINS      HEIGHTS* 

All  was  composed,  however ;  Catherine's  despair  was  as  sU 
lent  as  her  father's  joy.  She  supported  him  calmly,  in  appear- 
ance ;  and  he  fixed  on  her  features  his  raised  eyes,  that  seemed 
dilating  with  ecstasy. 

He  died  blissfully,  Mr.  Lockwood ;  he  died  so ;  kissing  her 
cheek,  he  murmured, 

"  I  am  going  to  her,  and  you,  darling  child,  shall  come  to  us  ;" 
and  never  stirred  or  spoke  again,  but  continued  that  rapt,  ra- 
diant gaze,  till  his  pulse  imperceptibly  stopped,  and  his  soul 
depaited.  None  could  have  noticed  the  exact  minute  of  his 
death,  it  was  so  entirely  without  a  struggle. 

Whether  Catherine  had  spent  her  tears,  or  whether  the  grief 
were  too  weighty  to  let  them  flow,  she  sat  there  dry-eyed  till 
the  run  rose — she  sat  till  noon,  and  would  still  have  remained, 
brooding  over  that  death-bed,  but  I  insisted  on  her  coming  away 
and  taking  some  repose. 

It  was  well  I  succeeded  in  removing  her,  for  at  dinner-time 
appeared  the  lawyer,  having  called  at  Wuthering  Heights  to 
get  his  instructions  how  to  behave.  He  had  sold  himself  to  Mr. 
Heathcliff,  and  that  was  the  cause  of  his  delay  in  obeying  my 
master's  summons.  Fortunately,  no  thought  of  worldly  affairs 
crossed  the  latter's  mind,  to  disturb  him  after  his  daughter's  ar- 
rival. 

Mr.  Green  took  upon  himself  to  order  every  thing  and  every 
body  about  the  place.  He  gave  all  the  servants  but  me  notice 
to  quit.  He  would  have  carried  his  delegated  authority  to  the 
point  of  insisting  that  Edgar  Linton  should  not  be  buried  beside 
his  wife,  but  in  the  chapel  with  his  family.  There  was  the  will; 
however,  to  hinder  that,  and  my  loud  protestations  against  any 
infringement  of  its  directions. 

The  funeral  was  hurried  over;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Linton  Heath- 
cliff  now,  was  suffered  to  stay  at  the  Grange,  till  her  father's 
corpse  had  quitted  it. 

She  told  me  that  her  anguish  had  at  last  spurred  Linton  to 
incur  the  risk  of  liberating  her.  She  heard  the  men  I  sent  dis- 
puting at  the  door,  and  she  gathered  the  sense  of  Heathcliff's 
answer.  It  drove  her  desperate.  Linton,  who  had  been  con- 
veyed up  to  the  little  parlor  soon  after  I  left,  was  terrified  into 
fetching  the  key  before  his  father  re-ascended. 

He  had  the  cunning  to  unlock  and  re-lock  the  door,  without 
shutting  it ;  and  when  he  should  have  gone  to  bed,  he  begged 
to  sleep  with  Hareton,  and  his  petition  was  granted,  for  once. 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  245 

Catherine  stole  out  before  break  of  day.  She  dare  not  try 
the  doors,  lest  the  dogs  should  raise  an  alarm ;  she  visited  the 
empty  chambers,  and  examined  their  windows;  and,  luckily, 
lighting  on  her  mother's,  she  got  easily  out  of  its  lattice  and  to 
the  ground,  by  means  of  the  fir-tree  close  by.  Her  accomplice 
suffered  for  his  share  in  the  escape,  notwithstanding  his  timid 
contrivances. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

The  evening  after  the  funeral,  my  young  lady  and  I  were 
seated  in  the  library  ;  now  musing  mournfully,  one  of  us  despair- 
ingly, on  our  loss  ;  now  venturing  conjectures  as  to  the  gloomy 
future. 

We  had  just  agreed  the  best  destiny  which  could  await  Cath- 
erine would  be  a  permission  to  continue  resident  at  the  Grange, 
at  least  during  Linton's  life  ;  he  being  allowed  to  join  her  there, 
and  I  to  remain  as  housekeeper.  That  seemed  rather  too  fa- 
vorable an  arrangement  to  be  hoped  for ;  and  yet  I  did  hope, 
and  began  to  cheer  up  under  the  prospect  of  retaining  my 
home  and  my  employment,  and,  above  all,  my  beloved  young 
mistress,  when  a  servant — one  of  the  discarded  ones,  not  yet 
departed — rushed  hastily  in,  and  said,  "  that  devil  Heathcliff" 
was  coming  through  the  court — should  he  fasten  the  door  in 
his  face  ] 

If  we  had  been  mad  enough  to  order  that  proceeding,  we 
had  not  time.  He  made  no  ceremony  of  knocking,  or  announc- 
ing his  name  ;  he  was  master,  and  availed  himself  of  the  mas- 
ter's privilege  to  walk  straight  in,  without  saying  a  word. 

The  sound  of  our  informant's  voice  directed  him  to  the 
library  ;  he  entered,  and,  motioning  him  out,  shut  the  door. 

It  was  the  same  room  into  which  he  had  been  ushered,  as  a 
guest,  eighteen  years  before  ;  the  same  moon  shone  through  the 
window,  and  the  same  autumn  landscape  lay  outside.  We  had 
not  yet  lighted  a  candle,  but  all  the  apartment  was  visible,  even 
to  the  portraits  on  the  wall — the  splendid  head  of  Mrs.  Linton, 
and  the  graceful  one  of  her  husband. 

Heathcliff  advanced  to  the  hearth.     Time  had  little  altered 


246  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

his  person  either.  There  was  the  same  man — his  dark  face 
rather  sallower  and  more  composed,  his  frame  a  stone  or  two 
heavier,  perhaps,  and  no  other  difference. 

Catherine  had  risen,  with  an  impulse  to  dash  out,  when  she 
saw  him. 

"  Stop  !"  he  said,  arresting  her  by  the  arm.  "No  more  run- 
nings away  !  Where  would  you  go]  I'm  come  to  fetch  you 
home ;  and  I  hope  you'll  be  a  dutiful  daughter,  and  not  encour- 
age my  son  to  further  disobedience.  I  was  embarrassed  how 
to  punish  him,  when  I  discovered  his  part  in  the  business — he's 
sAich  a  cobweb,  a  pinch  would  annihilate  him — but  you'll  see  by 
his  look  that  he  has  received  his  due.  I  brought  him  down  one 
evening,  the  day  before  yesterday,  and  just  set  him  in  a  chair, 
and  never  touched  him  afterward.  I  sent  Hareton  out,  and  we 
had  the  room  to  ourselves.  In  two  hours  I  called  Joseph  to 
carry  him  up  again,  and  since  then  my  presence  is  as  potent  on 
his  nerves  as  a  ghost;  and  I  fancy  he  sees  me  often,  though  I 
am  not  near.  Hareton  says  he  wakes  and  shrieks  in  the  night 
by  the  hour  together,  and  calls  you  to  protect  him  from  me  ; 
and,  whether  you  like  your  precious  mate  or  not,  you  must 
come — he's  your  concern  now ;  I  yield  all  my  interest  in  him 
to  you." 

"  Why  not  let  Catherine  continue  here  V  I  pleaded,  "  and 
send  Master  Linton  to  her.  As  you  hate  them  both,  you'd  not 
miss  them — they  can  only  be  a  daily  plague  to  your  unnatural 
heart." 

"  I'm  seeking  a  tenant  for  the  Grange,"  he  answered  ;  "  and 
I  want  my  children  about  me,  to  be  sure.  Besides,  that  lass 
owes  me  her  services  for  her  bread :  I'm  not  going  to  nurture 
her  in  luxury  and  idleness  after  Linton  is  gone.  Make  haste 
and  get  ready  now,  and  don't  oblige  me  to  compel  you." 

"  I  shall,"  said  Catherine.  "  Linton  is  all  I  have  to  love  in 
the  world ;  and,  though  you  have  done  what  you  could  to  make 
him  hateful  to  me,  and  me  to  him,  you  can  not  make  us  hate 
each  other ;  and  I  defy  you  to  hurt  him  when  I  am  by,  and  I 
defy  you  to  frighten  me." 

"  You  are  a  boastful  champion,"  replied  Heathcliff ;  "  but  I 
don't  like  you  well  enough  to  hurt  him — you  shall  get  the  full 
benefit  of  the  torment,  as  long  as  it  lasts.  It  is  not  I  who  will 
make  him  hateful  to  you — it  is  his  own  sweet  spirit.  He's  as 
bitter  as  gall  at  your  desertion  and  its  consequences :  don't  ex- 
pect thanks  for  this  noble  devotion.     I  heard  him  draw  a  pleas- 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  247 

ant  picture  to  Zillah  of  what'  he  would  do  if  he  were  as  strong 
as  I.  The  inclination  is  there,  and  his  very  weakness  will 
sharpen  his  wits  to  find  a  substitute  for  strength." 

"  I  know  he  has  a  bad  nature,"  said  Catherine:  "he's  your 
son.  But  I'm  glad  I've  a  better,  to  forgive  it ;  and  I  know  he 
loves  me,  and  for  that  reason  I  love  him.  Mr.  HeathclifF,  you 
have  nobody  to  love  you  ;  and,  however  miserable  you  make  us, 
we  shall  still  have  the  revenge  of  thinking  that  your  cruelty  rises 
from  your  greater  misery !  You  are  miserable,  are  you  not  % 
Lonely,  like  the  devil,  and  envious  like  him  ]  Nobody  loves 
you — nobody  will  cry  for  you  when  you  die  !  I  wouldn't  be 
you." 

Catherine  spoke  with  a  kind  of  dreary  triumph :  she  seemed 
to  have  made  up  her  mind  to  enter  into  the  spirit  of  her  future 
family,  and  draw  pleasure  from  the  griefs  of  her  enemies. 

"  You  shall  be  sorry  to  be  yourself  presently,"  said  her  father- 
in-law,  "  if  you  stand  there  another  minute.  Begone,  witch, 
and  get  your  things." 

She  scornfully  withdrew. 

In  her  absence,  I  began  to  beg  for  Zillah's  place  at  the 
Heights,  offering  to  resign  her  mine  ;  but  he  would  suffer  it  on 
no  account.  He  bid  me  be  silent,  and  then,  for  the  first  time, 
allowed  himself  a  glance  round  the  room  and  a  look  at  the  pic- 
tures.    Having  studied  Mrs.  Linton,  he  said — 

"I  shall  have  that  at  home.     Not  because  I  need  it,  but — " 

He  turned  abruptly  to  the  fire,  and  continued,  with  what,  for 
lack  of  a  better  word,  I  must  call  a  smile — 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I  did  yesterday  !  I  got  the  sexton,  who 
was  digging  Linton's  grave,  to  remove  the  earth  off  her  coffin 
lid,  and  I  opened  it.  I  thought,  once,  I  would  have  stayed 
there,  when  I  saw  her  face  again — it  is  hers  yet — he  had  hard 
work  to  stir  me ;  but  he  said  it  would  change  if  the  air  blew 
on  it,  and  so  I  struck  one  side  of  the  coffin  loose— and  covered 
it  up — not  Linton's  side,  damn  him  !  I  wish  he'd  been  soldered 
in  lead — and  I  bribed  the  sexton  to  pull  it  away,  when  I'm  laid 
there,  and  slide  mine  out  too,  I'll  have  it  made  so,  and  then,  by 
the  time  Linton  gets  to  us,  he'll  not  know  which  is  which  !" 

"You  were  very  wicked,   Mr.   Heathcliff !"   I    exclaimed 
"  were  you  not  ashamed  to  disturb  the  dead  V 

"  I  disturbed  nobody,  Nelly,"  he  replied  ;  "  and  I  gave  some 
ease  to  myself.  I  shall  be  a  great  deal  more  comfortable  now  ; 
and  you'll  have  a  better  chance  of  keeping  me  underground, 


248  WUTH  ER|  N  G     HEIGHT  3. 


when  I  get  there.  Disturbed  her  %  No !  she  has  disturbed  me, 
night  and  day,  through  eighteen  years — incessantly — remorse- 
lessly— till  yesternight — and  yesternight,  I  was  tranquil.  I 
dreamed  I  was  sleeping  the  last  sleep  by  that  sleeper,  with  my 
heart  stopped  and  my  cheek  frozen  against  hers." 

"  And  if  she  had  been  dissolved  into  earth,  or  worse,  what 
would  you  have  dreamed  of  then]"  I  said. 

"  Of  dissolving  with  her,  and  being  more  happy  still !"  he 
answered.  "  Do  you  suppose  I  dread  any  change  of  that  sort] 
I  expected  such  a  transformation  on  raising  the  lid,  but  I'm 
better  pleased  that  it  should  not  commence  till  I  share  it.  Be- 
sides, unless  I  had  received  a  distinct  impression  of  her  passion- 
less features,  that  strange  feeling  would  hardly  have  been  re- 
moved. It  began  oddly.  You  know  I  was  wild  after  she  died> 
and  eternally,  from  dawn  to  dawn,  praying  her  to  return  to  mo 
— her  spirit — I  have  a  strong  faith  in  ghosts;  I  have  a  Conviction 
that  they  can  and  do  exist  among  us  \ 

"  The  day  she  was  buried  there  came  a  fall  of  snow.  In  the 
evening  I  went  to  the  churchyard.  It  blew  bleak  as  winter — 
all  around  was  solitary  :  I  didn't  fear  that  her  fool  of  a  husband 
would  wander  up  the  den  so  late— and  no  one  else  had  business 
to  bring  them  there. 

"  Being  alone,  and  conscious  two  yards  of  loose  earth  was  the 
sole  barrier  between  us,  I  said  to  myself — 

"  '  I'll  have  her  in  my  arms  again  !  If  she  be  cold,  I'll  think 
it  is  this  north  wind  that  chills  me  ;  and  if  she  be  motionless,  it 
is  sleep.' 

"  I  got  a  spade  from  the  tool-house,  and  began  to  delve  with 
all  my  might — it  scraped  the  coffin :  I  fell  to  work  with  my 
hands ;  the  wood  commenced  cracking  about  the  screws,  I  was 
on  the  point  of  attaining  my  object,  when  it  seemed  that  I  heard 
a  sigh  from  some  one  above,  close  at  the  edge  of  the  grave,  and 
bending  down.  '  If  I  can  only  get  this  off,'  I  muttered,  '  I  wish 
they  may  shovel  in  the  earth  over  us  both !'  and  I  wrenched  at 
it  more  desperately  still.  There  was  another  sigh  close  at  my 
ear.  I  appeared  to  feel  the  warm  breath  of  it,  displacing  the 
sleet-laden  wind.  I  knew  no  living  thing  in  flesh  and  blood  was 
by — but  as  certainly  as  you  perceive  the  approach  to  some  sub- 
stantial body  in  the  dark,  though  it  can  not  be  discerned,  so 
certainly  I  felt  that  Cathy  was  there,  not  under  me,  but  on  the 
earth. 

"  A  sudden  sense  of  relief  flowed  from  my   heart,  through 


WUTHEE'INfi     HEIGHTS.  249 

every  limb.  I  relinquished  my  labor  of  agony,  and  turned 
consoled  at  once,  unspeakably  consoled.  Her  presence  was 
with  me  ;  it  remained  while  I  refilled  the  grave,  and  led  me 
home.  You  may  laugh,  if  you  will,  but  I  was  sure  I  should 
see  her  there.  I  was  sure  she  was  with  me,  and  I  could  not 
help  talking  to  her. 

"  Having  reached  the  Heights,  I  rushed  eagerly  to  the  door. 
It  was  fastened  ;  and  I  remember  that  accursed  Earashaw  and 
my  wife  opposed  my  entrance.  I  remember  stopping  to  kick 
the  breath  out  of  him,  and  then  hurrying  up-stairs  to  my  room, 
and  hers — I  looked  round  impatiently— I  felt  her  by  me — I 
could  almost  see  her,  and  yet  I  could  not  !  I  ought  to  have 
sweat  blood  then,  from  the  anguish  of  my  yearning,  from  the 
fervor  of  my  supplications  to  have  but  one  glimpse  !  I  bad 
not  one.  She  showed  herself,  as  she  often  was  in  life,  a  devil 
to  me  !  And  since  then,  sometimes  more,  and  sometimes  less, 
I've  been  the  sport  of  that  intolerable  torture  !  Infernal — 
keeping  my  nerves  at  such  a  stretch,  that,  if  they  had  not  re- 
sembled catgut,  they  would,  long  ago,  have  relaxed  to  the 
feebleness  of  Linton's. 

"  When  I  sat  in  the  house  wTith  Hareton,  it  seemed  that  on 
going  out,  I  should  meet  her ;  when  I  walked  on  the  moors, 
I  should  meet  her  coming  in.  When  I  went  from  home,  I 
hastened  to  return,  she  must  be  somewhere  at  the  Heights, 
I  was  certain  !  •  And  when  I  slept  in  her  chamber — I  was 
beaten  out  of  that — I  couldn't  lie  there  ;  for  the  moment  I 
closed  my  eyes,  she  was  either  outside  the  window,  or  sliding 
back  the  panels,  or  entering  the  room,  or  even  resting  her 
darling  head  on  the  same  pillow  as  she  did  when  a  child. 
And  I  must  open  my  lids  to  see.  And  so  I  opened  and  closed 
them  a  hundred  times  a  night — to  be  always  disappointed  ! 
It  racked  me  !  I've  often  groaned  aloud,  till  that  old  rascal 
Joseph,  no  doubt  believed  that  my  conscience  was  playing  the 
fiend  inside  of  me. 

"  Now  since  I've  seen  her,  I'm  pacified — a  little.  It  was  a 
strange  way  of  killing,  not  by  inches,  but  by  fractions  of  hair- 
breadths, to  beguile  me  with  the  specter  of  a  hope  through 
eighteen  years  !" 

Mr.  Heathcliff  paused,  and  wiped  his  forehead — his  hair 
clung  to  it,  wet  with  perspiration  ;  his  eyes  were  fixed  on  the 
red  embers  of  the  fire ;  the  brows  not  contracted,  but  raised 
next  the  temples,  diminishing  the  grim  aspect  of  his  counte- 


250  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

nance,  but  imparting  a  peculiar  look  of  trouble,  and  a  painful 
appearance  of  mental  tension  toward  one  absorbing  subject. 
He  only  half  addressed  me,  and  I  maintained  silence — I  did 
not  like  to  hear  him  talk. 

After  a  short  period,  he  resumed  his  meditation  on  the 
picture,  took  it  down,  and  leaned  it  against  the  sofa  to  con- 
template it  at  better  advantage  ;  and  while  so  occupied  Cathe- 
rine entered,  announcing  that  she  was  ready,  when  her  pony 
should  be  saddled. 

"  Send  that  over  to-morrow,"  said  Heathcliff  to  me ;  then 
turning  to  her,  he  added,  "  You  may  do  without  your  pony — 
it  is  a  fine  evening,  and  you'll  need  no  ponies  at  Wuthering 
Heights,  for  what  journeys  you  take  your  own  feet  will  serve 
you.     Come  along." 

"  Good-bye,  Ellen  !"  whispered  my  dear  little  mistress.  As 
she  kissed  me,  her  lips  felt  like  ice.  "  Come  and  see  me,  Ellen, 
don't  forget." 

"  Take  care  you  do  no  such  thing,  Mrs.  Dean  !"  said  her 
new  father.  "  When  I  wish  to  speak  to  you,  I'll  come  here.  I 
want  none  of  your  prying  at  my  house  !" 

He  signed  her  to  precede  him  ;  and  casting  back  a  look  that 
cut  my  heart,  she  obeyed. 

I  watched  them,  from  the  window,  walk  down  the  garden. 
Heathcliff  fixed  Catherine's  arm  under  his,  though  she  disputed 
the  act  at  first,  evidently,  and  with  rapid  strides  he  hurried  her 
into  the  alley,  whose  trees  concealed  them. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

I  have  paid  a  visit  to  the  Heights,  but  I  have  not  seen  her 
since  she  left ;  Joseph  held  the  door  in  his  hand,  when  I  called 
to  ask  after  her,  and  wouldn't  let  me  pass.  He  said  Mrs. 
Linton  was  "  thrang,"  and  the  master  was  not  in.  Zillah  has 
told  me  something  of  the  way  they  go  on,  otherwise  I  should 
hardly  know  who  was  dead,  and  who  living. 

She  thinks  Catherine  haughty,  and  does  not  like  her,  I  can 
guess  by  her  talk.  My  young  lady  asked  some  aid  of  her,  when 
she  first  came,  but  Mr.  Heathcliff  told  her  to  follow  her  own 


WUTHERINO      HEIGHTS.  £51 

business,  and  let  his  daughter-in-law  look  after  herself,  and 
Zillah  willingly  acquiesced,  being  a  narrow-minded,  selfish  wo- 
man. Catherine  evinced  a  child's  annoyance  at  this  neglect; 
repaid  it  with  contempt,  and  thus  enlisted  my  informant  among 
her  enemies,  as  securely  as  if  she  had  done  her  a  great  wrong. 

I  had  a  long  talk  with  Zillah,  about  six  weeks  ago,  a  little 
before  you  came,  one  day  when  we  foregathered  on  the  moor; 
and  this  is  what  she  told  me. 

"The  first  thing  Mrs.  Linton  did,"  she  said,  "on  her  arrival 
at  the  Heights,  was  to  run  up-stairs  without  even  wishing  good- 
evening  to  me  and  Joseph;  she  shut  herself  into  Linton's  room, 
and  remained  till  morning — then,  while  the  master  and  Earn- 
shaw  were  at  breakfast,  she  entered  the  house  and  asked,  all  in 
a  quiver,  if  the  doctor  might  be  sent  for  ?  her  cousin  was  very  ill. 

"  '  We  know  that !'  answered  HeathclifF,  '  but  his  life  is  not 
worth  a  farthing,  and  I  won't  spend  a  farthing  on  him.' 

"  '  But  I  can  not  tell  how  to  do/  she  said.  '  If  nobody  will 
help  me,  he'll  die  !' 

"  '  Walk  out  of  the  room  !'  cried  the  master,  *  and  let  me  never 
hear  a  word  more  about  him  I  None  here  care  what  becomes 
of  him  ;  if  you  do,  act  the  nurse;  if  you  do  not,  lock  him  up 
and  leave  him.' 

"  Then  she  began  to  bother  me,  and  I  said  I'd  had  enough 
plague  with  the  tiresome  thing ;  we  each  had  our  tasks,  and 
hers  was  to  wait  on  Linton.  Mr.  Heathcliff  bid  me  leave  that 
labor  to  her. 

"  How  they  managed  together,  I  can't  tell.  I  fancy  he  fret- 
ted a  °reat  deal,  and  moaned  hisseln,  night  and  day ;  and  she 
had  precious  little  rest,  one  could  guess  by  her  white  face  and 
heavy  eye — she  sometimes  came  into  the  kitchen  all  wildered 
like,  and.  looked  as  if  she  would  fain  beg  assistance  ;  but  I  was 
not  going  to  disobey  the  master — I  never  dare  disobey  him, 
Mrs.  Dean;  and  though  I  thought  it  wrong  that  Kenneth  should 
not  be  sent  for,  it  was  no  concern  of  mine,  either  to  advise  or 
complain ;  and  I  always  refused  to  meddle. 

"Once  or  twice,  after  we  had  gone  to  bed,  I've  happened  to 
open  my  door  again,  and  seen  her  sitting  crying  on  the  stairs' 
top  ;  and  then  I've  shut  myself  in  quick,  for  fear  of  being  moved 
to  interfere.  I  did  pity  her  then,  I'm  sure ;  still  I  didn't  wish 
to  lose  my  place,  you  know ! 

"  At  last,  one  night  she  came  boldly  into  my  chamber,  and 
frightened  me  out  of  my  wits  by  saying, 


252  W  U  T  H  E  K  I  N  ©      HEIGHT!?. 

"  'Tell  Mr.  Heatlicliff  that  his  son  is  dying — I'm  sure  he  is 
this  time.     Get  up  instantly,  and  tell  him  !' 

"  Having  uttered  this  speech,  she  vanished  again.  I  lay  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  listening  and  trembling.  Nothing  stirred — 
the  house  was  quiet. 

" '  She's  mistaken,'  I  said  to  myself.  '  He's  got  over  it.  I 
needn't  disturb  them.'  And  I  began  to  doze.  But  my  sleep 
was  marred  a  second  time,  by  a  sharp  ringing  of  the  bell — the 
only  bell  we  have,  put  up  on  purpose  for  Linton  ;  and  the  mas- 
ter called  to  me  to  see  what  was  the  matter,  and  inform  them 
that  he  wouldn't  have  that  noise  repeated. 

"I  delivered  Catherine's  message.  He  cursed  to  himself, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  came  out  with  a  lighted  candle,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  their  room  ;  I  followed.  Mrs.  Heathcliff  was  seated 
by  the  bedside,  with  her  hands  folded  on  her  knees.  Her  father- 
in-law  went  up,  held  the  light  to  Linton's  face,  looked  at  him, 
and  touched  him  :  afterward  he  turned  to  her. 

"  '  Now — Catherine,'  he  said,  'how  do  you  feel  V 

"  She  was  dumb. 

"  '  How  do  you  feel,  Catherine  V  he  repeated. 

"  'He's  safe,  and  I'm  free/,  she  answered  ;  '  I  should  feel  weH 
— but,'  she  continued,  with  a  bitterness  she  couldn't  conceal, 
*  You  have  left  me  so  long  to  struggle  against  death,  alone,  that 
I  feel  and  see  only  death  !  I  feel  like  death !' 

"  And  she  looked  like  it,  too  !  I  gave  her  a  little  wine.  Hare- 
ton  and  Joseph,  who  had  been  wakened  by  the  ringing,  and  the 
sound  of  feet,  and  heard  our  talk  from  outside,  tiow  entered. 
Joseph  was  fain,  I  believe,  of  the  lad's  removal :  Hareton  seem- 
ed a  thought  bothered,  though  he  was  more  taken  up  with 
staring  at  Catherine  than  thinking  of  Linton.  But  the  master 
bid  him  get  off  to  bed  again — we  didn't  want  his  help.  He  af- 
terward made  Joseph  remove  the  body  to  his  chamber,  and  told 
me  to  return  to  mine,  and  Mrs.  Heathcliff  remained  by  herself. 

"  In  the  morning  he  sent  me  to  tell  her  she  must  come  down 
to  breakfast.  She  had  undressed,  and  appeared  going  to  sleep ; 
and  said  she  was  ill — at  which  I  hardly  wondered.  I  informed 
Mr.  Heathcliff,  and  he  replied, 

" '  Well,  let  her  be  till  after  the  funeral,  and  go  up  now  and 
then  to  get  her  what  is  needful ;  and  as  soon  as  she  seems  bet- 
ter, tell  me.' " 

Cathy  stayed  up  stairs  a  fortnight,  according  to  Zillah,  who 
visited  her  twice  a  day,  and  would  have  been  rather  more 


W  U  T  II  E  R  I  N  G       HEIGHTS.  253 

friendly,  but  her  attempts  at  increasing  kindness  were  proudly 
and  promptly  repelled.  Heathcliff  went  up  once,  to  show  her 
Linton's  will.  He  had  bequeathed  the  whole  of  his  and  what 
bad  been  her  movable  property  to  his  father.  The  poor  crea- 
ture was  threatened  or  coaxed  into  that  act,  during  her  week's 
absence,  when  his  uncle  died.  The  lands,  being  a  minor,  he 
could  not  meddle  with.  However,  Mr.  Heathcliff  has  claimed, 
and  kept  them  in  his  wife's  right,  and  his  also — I  suppose  legally, 
at  any  rate  Catherine,  destitute  of  cash  and  friends,  can  not  dis- 
turb his  possession. 

"  Nobody,"  said  Zillah,  "  ever  approached  her  door,  except 
that  once,  but  I ;  and  nobody  asked  any  thing  about  her.  The 
iirst  occasion  of  her  coming  down  into  the  house  was  on  a  Sun- 
day afternoon. 

"  She  had  cried  out,  when  I  carried  up  her  dinner,  that  she 
couldn't  bear  any  longer  being  in  the  cold ;  and  I  told  her  the 
master  was  going  to  Thrushcross  Grange;  and  Earnshaw  and 
I  needn't  hinder  her  from  descending;  so,  as  soon  as  she  heard 
Heathcliff 's  horse  trot  off,  she  made  her  appearance,  donned  in 
black,  and  her  yellow  curls  combed  back  behind  her  ears — as 
plain  as  a  Quaker  she  couldn't  comb  them  out.  Joseph  and  I 
generally  go  to  chapel  on  Sundays."  (The  kirk,  you  know,  has 
no  minister,  now,  explained  Mrs.  Dean,  and  they  call  the  Meth- 
odists' or  Baptists'  place,  I  can't  say  which  it  is,  at  Gimmerton, 
a  chapel.)  "  Joseph  had  gone,"  she  continued,  "but  I  thought 
proper  to  bide  at  home.  Young  folks  are  always  the  better  for 
an  elder's  overlooking,  and  Hareton,  with  all  his  bashfulness, 
isn't  a  model  of  nice  behavior.  I  let  him  know  that  his  cousin 
would  very  likely  sit  with  us,  and  she  had  been  always  used  to 
see  the  Sabbath  respected,  so  he  had  as  good  leave  his  guns 
and  bits  of  in-door  work  alone,  while  she  staid. 

"  He  colored  up  at  the  news  ;  and  cast  his  eyes  over  his  hands 
and  clothes.  The  train-oil  and  gunpowder  were  shoved  out  of 
sight  in  a  minute.  I  saw  he  meant  to  give  her  his  company ; 
and  I  guessed,  by  his  way,  he  wanted  to  be  presentable  ;  so, 
laughing  as  I  durst  not  laugh  when  the  master  is  by,  I  offered 
to  help  him,  if  he  would,  and  joked  at  his  confusion.  He  grew 
sullen,  and  began  to  swear. 

"  Now,  Mrs.  Dean,"  she  went  on,  seeing  me  not  pleased  by 
her  manner,  "  you  happen  think  your  young  lady  too  fine  for 
Mr.  Hareton,  and  happen  you're  right — I  own,  I.  should  love  well 
to  bring  her  pride  a  peg  lower.     And  what  will  all  her  learning 


254  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

and  all  her  daintiness  do  for  her,  now?  She's  as  poor  as  you, 
or  I — poorer.  I'll  be  bound,  you're  saving — and  I'm  doing  my 
little  all  that  road." 

Hareton  allowed  Zillah  to  give  him  her  aid ;  and  she  flattered 
him  into  a  good  humor  ;  so,  when  Catherine  came,  half  forget- 
ting her  former  insults,  he  tried  to  make  himself  agreeable,  by 
the  housekeeper's  account. 

"  Missis  walked  in,"  she  said,  "  as  chill  as  an  icicle,  and  as 
high  as  a  princess.  I  got  up  and  offered  her  my  seat  in  the 
arm-chair.  No,  she  turned  up  her  nose  at  my  civility,  Earn- 
shaw  rose  too,  and  bid  her  come  to  the  settle,  and  sit  close  by 
the  fire ;  he  was  sure  she  was  starved. 

"'I've  been  starved  a  month  and  more,'  she  answered,  rest- 
ing on  the  word,  as  scornful  as  she  could. 

"And  she  got  a  chair  for  herself,  and  placed  it  at  a  distance 
from  both  of  us.  Having  sat  till  she  was  warm,  she  began  to 
look  round,  and  discovered  a  number  of  books  in  the  dresser  j 
she  was  instantly  upon  her  feet  again,  stretching  to  reach  them, 
but  they  were  too  high  up.  Her  cousin,  after  watching  her  en- 
deavors a  while,  at  last  summoned  courage  to  help  her;  she 
held  her  frock,  and  he  filled  it  with  the  first  that  came  to  hand. 

"  That  was  a  great  advance  for  the  lad — she  didn't  thank  him  ; 
still  he  felt  gratified  that  she  had  accepted  his  assistance,  and 
ventured  to  stand  behind,  as  she  examined  them,  and  even  to 
stoop  and  point  out  what  struck  his  fancy  in  certain  old  pictures 
which  they  contained — nor  was  he  daunted  by  the  saucy  style 
in  which  she  jerked  the  page  from  his  finger;  he  contented 
himself  with  going  a  bit  farther  back,  and  looking  at  her,  instead 
of  the  book. 

"  She  continued  reading,  or  seeking  for  something  to  read. 
His  attention  became,  by  degrees,  quite  centered  in  the  study 
of  her  thick,  silky  curls— -her  face  he  couldn't  see,  and  she 
couldn't  see  him.  And,  perhaps,  not  quite  awake  to  what  he 
did,  but  attracted  like  a  child  to  a  candle,  at  last  he  proceeded 
from  staring  to  touching ;  he  put  out  his  hand  and  stroked  one 
curl,  as  gently  as  if  it  were  a  bird.  He  might  have  stuck  a 
knife  into  her  neck,  she  started  round  in  such  a  taking. 

"  '  Get  away,  this  moment !  How  dare  you  touch  me  1  Why 
are  you  stopping  there  V  she  cried,  in  a  tone  of  disgust.  'I 
can't  endure  you  !    I'll  go  up-stairs  again,  if  you  come  near  me.' 

"  Mr.  Hareton  recoiled,  looking  as  foolish  as  he  could  do ;  he 
sat  down  in  the  settle,  very  quiet,  and  she  continued  turning  over 


WUTHERING       HEIGHTS.  255 

her  volumes  another  half-hour — finally,  Earnshaw  crossed  over 
and  whispered  to  me. 

"  '  Will  you  ask  her  to  read  to  us,  Zillah  ]  I'm  stalled  of  do- 
ing naught — and  I  do  like — I  could  like  to  hear  her  !  dunnot  say 
I  wanted  it,  but  ask  of  yourseln.' 

"  ■  Mr.  Hareton  wishes  you  would  read  to  us,  ma'am,'  I  said, 
immediately.     '  He'd  take  it  very  kind — he'd  be  much  obliged.' 

"  She  frowned  ;  and,  looking  up,  answered — 

"  '  Mr.  Hareton,  and  the  whole  set  of  you,  will  be  good  enough 
to  understand  that  I  reject  any  pretense  at  kindness  you  have 
the  hypocrisy  to  offer  !  I  despise  you,  and  will  have  nothing 
to  say  to  any  of  you !  When  I  would  have  given  my  life  for  one 
kind  word,  even  to  see  one  of  your  faces,  you  all  kept  off.  But 
I  won't  complain  to  you !  I'm  driven  down  here  by  the  cold, 
not  either  to  amuse  you,  or  enjoy  your  society.' 

"  *-  What  could  I  ha'  done  V  began  Earnshaw.  '  How  was  I 
to  blame  V 

"  '  Oh  !  you  are  an  exception,'  answered  Mrs.  Heathcliff.  '  I 
never  missed  such  a  concern  as  you.' 

"  '  But  I  offered  more  than  once,  and  asked,'  he  said,  kindling 
up  at  her  pertness — •  I  asked  Mr.  Heathcliff  to  let  me  wake  for 
you—' 

"  '  Be  silent !  I'll  go  out  of  doors,  or  any  where,  rather  than 
have  your  disagreeable  voice  in  my  ear !'  said  my  lady. 

"  Hareton  muttered,  she  might  go  to  hell,  for  him  !  and  un- 
slinging  his  gun,  restrained  himself  from  his  Sunday  occupations 
no  longer.  He  talked  now,  freely  enough;  and  she  presently 
saw  fit  to  retreat  to  her  solitude  :  but  the  frost  had  set  in,  and, 
in  spite  of  her  pride,  she  was  forced  to  condescend  to  our  com- 
pany more  and  more.  However,  I  took  care  there  should  be 
no  further  scorning  at  my  good  nature.  Ever  since,  I've  been 
as  stiff  as  herself;  and  she  has  no  lover  or  liker  among  us,  and 
she  does  not  deserve  one — for,  let  them  say  the  least  word  to 
her,  and  she'll  curl  back  without  respect  of  any  one  !  She'll 
snap  at  the  master  himself,  and  as  good  as  dares  him  to  thrash 
her ;  and  the  more  hurt  she  gets,  the  more  venomous  she  grows." 

At  first,  on  hearing  this  account  from  Zillah,  I  determined  to 
leave  my  situation,  take  a  cottage,  and  get  Catherine  to  come 
and  live  with  me  ;  but  Mr.  Heathcliff  would  as  soon  permit  that 
as  he  would  set  up  Hareton  in  an  independent  house  :  and  I  can 
6ee  no  remedy  at  present,  unless  she  could  marry  again ;  and 
that  scheme,  it  does  not  come  within  my  province  to  arrange. 


256  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

Thus  ended  Mrs.  Dean's  story.  Notwithstanding  the  doctor's 
prophecy,  I  am  rapidly  recovering  strength,  and  though  it  be 
only  the  second  week  in  January,  1  propose  getting  out  on 
horseback  in  a  day  or  two,  and  riding  over  to  Wuthering 
Heights,  to  inform  my  landlord  that  I  shall  spend  the  next  six 
months  in  London  ;  and,  if  he  likes,  he  may  look  out  for  another 
tenant  to  take  the  place  after  October.  I  would  not  pass  another 
winter  here  for  much. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Yesterday  was  bright,  calm,  and  frosty.  I  went  to  the 
Heights,  as  I  proposed  ;  my  housekeeper  entreated  me  to  bear 
a  little  note  from  her  to  her  young  lady,  and  I  did  not  refuse, 
for  the  worthy  woman  was  not  conscious  of  any  thing  odd  in- 
ner request. 

The  front  door  stood  open,  but  the  jealous  gate  was  fastened, 
as  at  my  last  visit ;  I  knocked  and  invoked  Earnshaw  from 
among  the  garden  beds  ;  he  unchained  it  and  I  entered.  The 
fellow  is  as  handsome  a  rustic  as  need  be  seen.  I  took  particu- 
lar notice  of  him  this  time  ;  but  then  he  does  his  best,  apparent- 
ly, to  make  the  least  of  his  advantages. 

I  asked  if  Mr.  Heathcliff  were  at  home  1  He  answered,  no  ; 
but  he  would  be  in  at  dinner-time.  It  was  eleven  o'clock,  and 
I  announced  my  intention  of  going  in  and  waiting  for  him,  at 
which  he  immediately  flung  down  his  tools,  and  accompanied 
me,  in  the  office  of  watch-dog,  not  as  a  substitute  for  the  host. 

We  entered  together ;  Catherine  was  there,  making  herself 
useful  in  preparing  some  vegetables  for  the  approaching  meal ; 
she  looked  more  sulky  and  less  spirited  than  when  I  had  seen 
her  first.  She  hardly  raised  her  eyes  to  notice  me,  and  con- 
tinued her  employment  with  the  same  disregard  to  common 
forms  of  politeness  as  before,  never  returning  my  bow  and  good- 
morning  by  the  slightest  acknowledgment. 

"  She  does  not  seem  so  amiable,"  I  thought,  "  as  Mrs.  Bean 
would  persuade  me  to  believe.  She's  a  beauty,  it  is  true,  but 
not  an  angel." 

Earnshaw  surlily  bid  her  remove  her  things  to  the  kitchen. 


WUTH BRING      HEIGHTS.  257 

"  Remove  them  yourself,"  she  said,  pushing  them  from  her, 
as  soon  as  she  had  done  ;  and  retiring  to  a  stool  by  the  window, 
where  she  began  to  carve  figures  of  birds  and  beasts,  out  of  the 
turnip-parings  in  her  lap.  I  approached  her,  pretending  to  de- 
sire a  view  of  the  garden,  and,  as  I  fancied,  adroitly  dropped 
Mrs.  Dean's  note  upon  her  knee,  unnoticed  by  Hareton,  but  she 
asked  aloud — 

"  What  is  that  1"  and  chucked  it  off. 

"  A  letter  from  your  old  acquaintance,  the  housekeeper  at  the 
Grange,"  I  answered,  annoyed  at  her  exposing  my  kind  deed, 
and  fearful  lest  it  should  be  imagined  a  missive  of  my  own. 
She  would  gladly  have  gathered  it  up  at  this  information,  but 
Hareton  beat  her ;  he  seized  and  put  it  in  his  waistcoat,  saying 
Mr.  Heathcliff  should  look  at  it  first. 

Thereat,  Catherine  silently  turned  her  face  from  us,  and,  very 
stealthily,  drew  out  her  pocket-handkerchief  and  applied  it  to 
her  eyes  ;  and  her  cousin,  after  struggling  a  while  to  keep  down 
his  softer  feelings,  pulled  out  the  letter  and  flung  it  on  the  floor 
beside  her,  as  ungraciously  as  he  could.  Catherine  caught  and 
perused  it  eagerly ;  then  she  put  a  few  questions  to  me  con- 
cerning the  inmates,  rational  and  irrational,  of  her  former  home, 
and,  gazing  toward  the  hills,  murmured  in  soliloquy — 

"  I  should  like  to  be  riding  Minny  down  there  !  I  should 
like  to  be  climbing  up  there  !  Oh,  I'm  tired  ! — I'm  stalled, 
Hareton  !" 

And  she  leaned  her  pretty  head  back  against  the  sill,  with 
half  a  yawn  and  half  a  sigh,  and  lapsed  into  an  aspect  of  ab- 
stracted sadness,  neither  caring  nor  knowing  whether  we  re- 
marked her. 

"  Mrs.  Heathcliff,"  I  said,  after  sitting  some  time  mute,  "  you 
are  not  aware  that  I  am  an  acquaintance  of  yours;  so  intimate, 
that  1  think  it  strange  you  won't  come  and  speak  to  me.  My 
housekeeper  never  wearies  of  talking  about  and  praising  you ; 
and  she'll  be  greatly  disappointed  if  I  return  with  no  news  of, 
or  from  you,  except  that  you  received  her  letter,  and  said 
nothing!" 

She  appeared  to  wonder  at  this  speech  and  asked, 

"  Does  Ellen  like  you  I" 

"  Yes,  very  well,"  I  replied  unhesitatingly. 

"  You  must  tell  her,"  she  continued,  "  that  I  would  answer 
her  letter,  but  I  have  no  materials  for  writing,  not  even  a  book 
from  which  I  might  tear  a  leaf." 


255  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"No  books!"  I  exclaimed.  "How  do  you  contrive  to  live 
here  without  them  %  if  I  may  take  the  liberty  to  inquire. 
Though  provided  with  a  large  library,  I'm  frequently  very  dull 
at  the  Grange — take  my  books  away,  and  I  should  be  des- 
perate !" 

"I  was  always  reading,  when  I  had  them;"  said  Catherine, 
"  and  Mr.  Heathcliff  never  reads  ;  so  he  took  it  into  his  head  to 
destroy  my  books.  I  have  not  had  a  glimpse  of  one  for  weeks. 
Only  once,  I  searched  through  Joseph's  store  of  theology,  to 
his  great  irritation :  and  once,  Hareton,  I  came  upon  a  secret 
stock  in  your  room — some  Latin  and  Greek,  and  some  tales  and 
poetry  ;  all  old  friends.  I  brought  the  last  here- — and  you 
gathered  them,  as  a  magpie  gathers  silver  spoons,  for  the  mere 
love  of  stealing  !  They  are  of  no  use  to  you — *or  else  you  con- 
cealed them  in  the  bad  spirit,  that  as  you  can  not  enjoy  them, 
nobody  else  shall.  Perhaps  your  envy  counseled  Mr.  Heath- 
cliff  to  rob  me  of  my  treasures  1  But,  I've  most  of  them  written 
on  my  brain  and  printed  in  my  heart,  and  you  can  not  deprive 
me  of  those!" 

Earnshaw  blushed  crimson,  when  his  cousin  made  this  reve- 
lation of  his  private  literary  accumulations,  and  stammered  an 
indignant  denial  of  her  accusations. 

"  Mr.  Hareton  is  desirous  of  increasing  his  amount  of  knowl- 
edge," I  said,  coming  to  his  rescue.  "  He  is  not  envious  but 
emulous  of  your  attainments.  He'll  be  a  clever  scholar  in  a  few 
years!" 

"And  he  wants  me  to  sink  into  a  dunce,  meantime,"  an- 
swered Catherine.  "Yes,  I  hear  him  trying  to  spell  and  read 
to  himself,  and  pretty  blunders  he  makes !  I  wish  you  would 
repeat  Chevy  Chase,  as  you  did  yesterday.  It  was  extremely 
funny  !  I  heard  you ;  and  I  heard  you  turning  over  the  dic- 
tionary, to  seek  out  the  hard  words,  and  then  cursing  because 
you  couldn't  read  their  explanations  !" 

The  young  man  evidently  thought  it  too  bad  that  he  should 
be  laughed  at  for  his  ignorance,  and  then  laughed  at  for  trying 
to  remove  it.  I  had  a  similar  notion,  and,  remembering  Mrs. 
Dean's  anecdote  of  his  first  attempt  at  enlightening  the  dark- 
ness in  which  he  had  been  reared,  I  observed, 

"  But,  Mrs.  Heathcliff,  we  have  each  had  a  commencement, 
and  each  stumbled  and  tottered  on  the  threshold,  and  had  our 
teachers  scorned,  instead  of  aiding  us,  we  should  stumble  and 
totter  yet." 


W  U  T  II  BRING      HEIGHTS.  259 

"  Oh  !"  she  replied,  "  I  don't  wish  to  limit  his  acquirements — 
still,  he  has  no  right  to  appropriate  what  is  mine,  and  make  it 
ridiculous  to  me  with  his  vile  mistakes  and  mis-pronunciations  ! 
Those  books,  both  prose  and  verse,  were  consecrated  to  me  by- 
other  associations,  and  I  hate  to  have  them  debased  and  pro- 
faned in  his  mouth  !  Besides,  of  all,  he  has  selected  my  favorite 
pieces  that  I  love  the  most  to  repeat,  as  if  out  of  deliberate 
malice  !" 

Hareton's  chest  heaved  in  silence  a  minute ;  he  labored  under 
a  severe  sense  of  mortification  and  wrath,  which  it  was  no  easy- 
task  to  suppress. 

I  rose,  and  from  a  gentlemanly  idea  of  relieving  his  embar- 
rassment, took  up  my  station  in  the  door-way,  surveying  the  ex- 
ternal prospect,  as  I  stood.  He  followed  my  example,  and  left 
the  room,  but  presently  reappeared,  bearing  half-a-dozen 
volumes  in  his  hands,  which  he  threw  into  Catherine's  lap,  ex- 
claiming, 

"  Take  them !  I  never  want  to  hear,  or  read,  or  think  of 
them  again !" 

"  I  won't  have  them,  now  !"  she  answered.  "  I  shall  connect 
them  with  you,  and  hate  them  !" 

She  opened  one  that  had  obviously  been  often  turned  over, 
and  read  a  portion  in  the  drawling  tone  of  a  beginner;  then 
laughed,  and  threw  it  from  her. 

"  And  listen !"  she  continued  provokingly,  commencing  a 
verse  of  an  old  ballad  in  the  same  fashion. 

But  his  self-love  would  endure  no  further  torment — I  heard, 
and  not  altogether  disapprovingly,  a  manual  check  given  to  her 
saucy  tongue.  The  little  wretch  had  done  her  utmost  to  hurt 
her  cousin's  sensitive  though  uncultivated  feelings,  and  a  physical 
argument  was  the  only  mode  he  had  of  balancing  the  account, 
and  repaying  its  effects  on  the  inflicter. 

He  afterwards  gathered  the  books  and  hurled  them  on  the 
fire.  I  read  in  his  countenance  what  anguish  it  was  to  offer 
that  sacrifice  to  spleen.  I  fancied  that  as  they  consumed,  he 
recalled  the  pleasure  they  had  already  imparted  ;  and  the  tri- 
umph and  ever  increasing  pleasure  he  had  anticipated  from 
them — and  I  fancied  I  guessed  the  incitement  to  his  secret 
studies,  also.  He  had  been  content  with  daily  labor  and  rough 
animal  enjoyments,  till  Catherine  crossed  his  path.  Shame  at 
her  scorn  and  hope  of  her  approval  were  his  first  prompters  to 
higher  pursuits ;  and  instead    of  guarding  him  from  one,  and 


269  W  U  T  II  E  R  I  N  G      II  E  I6BT9. 

winning  him  the  other,  his  endeavors  to  raise  himself  had  pro- 
duced just  the  contrary  result. 

"Yes,  that's  all  the  good  that  such  a  brute  as  you  can  get 
from  them  !"  cried  Catherine,  sucking  her  damaged  lip,  and 
watching  the  conflagration  with  indignant  eyes. 

"  You'd  better  hold  your  tongue  now  !"  he  answered  fiercely. 
And  his  agitation  precluding  further  speech,  he  advanced  hastily 
to  the  entrance,  where  I  made  way  for  him  to  pass.  But,  ere 
he  had  crossed  the  door-stones,  Mr.  Heathcliff,  coming  up  the 
causeway,  encountered  him,  and  laying  hold  of  his  shoulder, 
asked, 
■    "  What's  to  do  now,  my  lad  V9 

"  Naught,  naught !"  he  said,  and  broke  away,  to  enjoy  his 
grief  and  anger  in  solitude.  Heathcliff  gazed  after  him,  and 
sighed. 

"  It  will  be  odd,  if  I  thwart  myself!"  he  muttered,  uncon- 
scious that  I  was  behind  him.  "  But  when  I  look  for  his  father 
in  his  face,  I  find  her  every  day  more!  How  the  devil  is  he 
so  like  ]     I  can  hardly  bear  to  see  him." 

He  bent  his  eyes  to  the  ground,  and  walked  moodily  in. 
There  was  a  restless,  anxious  expression  in  his  countenance  1 
bad  never  remarked  there  before,  and  he  looked  sparer  in  per- 
son. His  daughter-in-law  on  perceiving  him  through  the 
window,  immediately  escaped  to  the  kitchen,  so  that  I  remained 
alone. 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  you  out  of  doors  again,  Mr.  Lockwood," 
he  said  in  reply  to  my  greeting,  "  from  selfish  motives  partly, 
I  don't  think  I  could  readily  supply  your  loss  in  this  desolation. 
I've  wondered,  more  than  once,  what  brought  you  here." 

"An  idle  whim,  I  fear,  sir,"  was  my  answer,  "or  else  an 
idle  whim  is  going  to  spirit  me  away.  I  shall  set  out  for 
London,  next  week,  and  I  must  give  you  warning,  that  I  feel 
no  disposition  to  retain  Thrushcross  Grange  beyond  the  twelve- 
month I  agreed  to  rent  it.  I  believe  I  shall  not  live  there  any 
more. 

"  Oh,  indeed  !  you're  tired  of  being  banished  from  the  world, 
are  you  V  he  said.  "  But  if  you  be  coming  to  plead  off  pay- 
ing for  a  place  you  won't  occupy,  your  journey  is  useless — I 
never  relent  in  exacting  my  due  from  any  one." 

"I'm  coming  to  plead  off  nothing  about  it!"  I  exclaimed, 
considerably  irritated.  "  Should  you  wish  it,  I'll  settle  with 
you  now,"  and  I  drew  my  notebook  from  my  pocket. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  261 

"  No,  no,"  he  replied,  coolly,  "  you'll  leave  sufficient  behind 
to  cover  your  debts,  if  you  fail  to  return.  I'm  not  in  such  a 
hurry — sit  down  and  take  you  dinner  with  us — a  guest  that  is 
safe  from  repeating  his  visit,  can  generally  be  made  welcome. 
Catherine  !  bring  the  things  in — where  are  you  ]" 

Catherine  reappeared,  bearing  a  tray  of  knives  and  forks. 

"  You  may  get  your  dinner  with  Joseph,"  muttered  Heath- 
cliff  aside,  "  and  remain  in  the  kitchen  till  he  is  gone." 

She  obeyed  his  directions  very  punctually — perhaps  she  had 
no  temptation  to  transgress.  Living  among  clowns  and  misan- 
thropists, she  probably  can  not  appreciate  a  better  class  of 
people,  when  she  meets  them. 

With  Mr.  Heathcliff,  grim  and  saturnine,  on  one  hand,  and 
Hareton  absolutely  dumb,  on  the  other,  1  made  a  somewhat 
cheerless  meal,  and  bid  adieu  early.  I  would  have  departed 
by  the  back  way,  to  get  a  last  glimpse  of  Catherine  and  annoy 
old  Joseph  ;  but  Hareton  received  orders  to  lead  up  my  horse, 
and  my  host  himself  escorted  me  to  the  door,  so  I  could  not  ful- 
fill my  wish. 

"  How  dreary  life  gets  over  in  that  house  !"  I  reflected,  while 
riding  down  the  road.  "  What  a  realization  of  something  more 
romantic  than  a  fairy  tale  it  would  have  been  for  Mrs.  Linton 
Heathcliff,  had  she  and  I  struck  up  an  attachment,  as  her  good 
nurse  desired,  and  migrated  together  into  the  stirring  atmos- 
phere of  the  town!" 


» 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

1802. — This  September,  I  was  invited  to  devastate  the  moors 
of  a  friend,  in  the  north  ;  and,  on  my  journey  to  his  abode,  I 
unexpectedly  came  within  fifteen  miles  of  Gimmerton.  The 
hostler,  at  a  roadside  public-house,  was  holding  a  pail  of  water 
to  refresh  my  horses,  when  a  cart  of  very  green  oats,  newly 
reaped,  passed  by,  and  he  remarked — 

"  Yon's  frough  Gimmerton,  nah  !  They're  alias  three  wick* 
after  other  folk  wi'  ther  harvest." 

"  Gimmerton]"  I  repeated,  my  residence  in  that  locality  had 
already  grown  dim  and  dreamy.  u  Ah  !  I  know  !  How  far  is 
it  from  this  V 


262  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

"  Happen  fourteen  mile'  o'er  th'  hills,  and  a  rough  road,"  he 
answered. 

A  sudden  impulse  seized  me  to  visit  Thrushcross  Grange. 
It  was  scarcely  noon,  and  I  conceived  that  I  might  as  well  pass 
the  night  under  my  own  roof  as  in  an  inn.  Besides,  1  could 
spare  a  day  easily,  to  arrange  matters  with  my  landlord,  and 
thus  save  myself  the  trouble  of  invading  the  neighborhood  again. 

Having  rested  a  while,  I  directed  my  servant  to  inquire  the 
way  to  the  village  ;  and,  with  great  fatigue  to  our  beasts,  we 
managed  the  distance  in  some  three  hours.  I  left  him  there, 
and  proceeded  down  the  valley  alone.  The  gray  church 
looked  grayer,  and  the  lonely  churchyard  lonelier.  I  distin- 
guished a  moor  sheep  cropping  the  short  turf  on  the  graves. 
It  was  sweet,  warm  weather— too  warm  for  traveling ;  but  the 
heat  did  not  hinder  me  from  enjoying  the  delightful  scenery 
above  and  below ;  had  I  seen  it  nearer  August,  I  am  sure  it 
would  have  tempted  me  to  waste  a  month  among  its  solitudes. 
In  winter  nothing  more  dreary,  in  summer  nothing  more 
divine,  than  those  glens  shut  in  by  hills,  and  those  bluff,  bold 
swells  of  heath. 

I  reached  the  Grange  before  sunset,  and  knocked  for  ad- 
mittance ;  but  the  family  had  retreated  into  the  back  premises, 
I  judged  by  one  thin,  blue  wreath  curling  from  the  kitchen 
chimney,  and  they  did  not  hear.  I  rode  into  the  court.  Under 
the  porch  a  girl  of  nine  or  ten  sat  knitting,  and  an  old  woman 
reclined  on  the  horse-steps,  smoking  a  meditative  pipe. 

"Is  Mrs.  Dean  within]"  I  demanded  of  the  dame. 

"  Mistress  Dean  1  Nay  !"  she  answered,  "  shoo  doesn't  bide 
here ;  shoo's  up  at  th'  Heights." 

"  Are  you  the  housekeeper,  then  V  I  continued. 

"  Eea,  aw  keep  th'  hause,"  she  replied. 

"Well,  I'm  Mr.  Lockwood,  the  master.  Are  there  any 
rooms  to  lodge  me  in  1     I  wish  to  stay  here  all  night." 

"  T'  maister!"  she  cried  in  astonishment,  "Whet,  whoiver 
knew  yah  wur  coming?  Yah  sud  ha'  send  word!  They's 
nowt  norther  dry  nor  mensful  abaht  t'  place — nowt  there  isn't!" 

She  threw  down  her  pipe  and  bustled  in,  the  girl  followed, 
and  I  entered  too ;  soon  perceiving  that  her  report  was  true, 
and,  moreover,  that  I  had  almost  upset  her  wits  by  my  unwel- 
come apparition. 

I  bid  her  be  composed — I  would  go  out  for  a  walk ;  and, 
meantime,  she  must  try  to  prepare  a  corner  of  a  sitting-robm 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  263 

for  me  to  sup  in,  and  a  bed-room  to  sleep  in.  No  sweeping 
and  dusting,  only  good  fires  and  dry  sheets  were  necessary. 
She  seemed  willing  to  do  her  best;  though  she  thrust  the 
hearth-brush  into  the  grate  in  mistake  for  the  poker ;  and  un- 
appropriated several  other  articles  of  her  craft :  but  I  retired, 
confiding  in  her  energy  for  a  resting-place  against  my  return. 

Wuthering  Heights  was  the  goal  of  my  proposed  excursion. 
An  after-thought  brought  me  back,  when  I  had  left  the  court. 

"  All  well  at  the  Heights  V'  I  inquired  of  the  woman. 

"  Eea,  f 'r  owt  aw  knaw !"  she  answered,  skurrying  away 
with  a  pan  of  hot  cinders. 

I  would  have  asked  why  Mrs.  Dean  had  deserted  the 
Grange ;  but  it  was  impossible  to  delay  her  at  such  a  crisis, 
so  I  turned  away  and  made  my  exit,  rambling  leisurely  along 
with  the  glow  of  a  sinking  sun  behind,  and  the  mild  glory  of  a 
rising  moon  in  front;  one  fading  and  the  other  brightening,  as 
I  quitted  the  park  and  climbed  the  stony  by-road  branching 
off  to  Mr.  HeathclifFs  dwelling.  Before  I  arrived  in  sight 
of  it,  all  that  remained  of  day  was  a  beamless,  amber  light 
along  the  west;  but  I  could  see  every  pebble  on  the  path,  and 
every  blade  of  grass,  by  that  splendid  moon. 

I  had  neither  to  climb  the  gate,  nor  to  knock — it  yielded  to 
my  hand.  That  is  an  improvement,  I  thought.  And  I  noticed 
another,  by  the  aid  of  my  nostrils ;  a  fragrance  of  stocks  and 
wall  flowers,  wafted  on  the  air  from  among  the  fruit  trees. 

Both  doors  and  lattices  were  open ;  and  yet,  as  is  usually  the 
case  in  a  coal  district,  a  fine,  red  fire  illuminated  the  chimney  ; 
the  comfort  which  the  eye  derives  from  it  renders  the  extra  heat 
endurable.  But  the  house  of  Wuthering  Heights  is  so  large, 
that  the  inmates  have  plenty  of  space  for  withdrawing  out  of  its 
influence  ;  and,  accordingly,  what  inmates  there  were  had  sta- 
tioned themselves  not  far  from  one  of  the  windows.  I  could 
both  see  them  and  hear  them  talk  before  I  entered  ;  and  looked 
and  listened  in  consequence,  being  moved  thereto  by  a  mingled 
sense  of  curiosity  and  envy,  that  grew  as  I  lingered. 

"  Qou-trary  /"  said  a  voice,  as  sweet  as  a  silver  bell.  "  That 
for  the  third  time,  you  dunce  !  I'm  not  going  to  tell  you  again. 
Recollect,  or  I  pull  your  hair!" 

"  Contrary,  then,"  answered  another,  in  deep,  but  softened 
tones.     "  And  now,  kiss  me,  for  minding  so  well."  ■ 

"  No,  read  it  over  first  correctly,  without  a  single  mistake." 

The  male  speaker  began  to  read — he  was  a  young  man,  re- 
spectably dressed,  and  seated  at  a  table,  having  a  book  before 


264  WITHERING      HEIGHTS. 

him.  His  handsome  features  glowed  with  pleasure,  and  his 
eyes  kept  impatiently  wandering  from  the  page  to  a  small  white 
hand  over  his  shoulder,  which  recalled  him  by  a  smart  slap  on 
the  cheek,  whenever  its  owner  detected  such  signs  of  inattention. 

Its  owner  stood,  behind ;  her  light  shining  ringlets  blending  at 
intervals  with  his  brown  locks,  as  she  bent  to  superintend  his 
studies ;  and  her  face — it  was  lucky  he  could  not  see  her  face, 
or  he  would  never  have  been  so  steady- — I  could,  and  I  bit  my 
lip  in  spite,  at  having  thrown  away  the  chance  I  might  have 
had,  of  doing  something  besides  staring  at  its  smiling  beauty. 

The  task  was  done,  not  free  from  further  blunders,  but  the 
pupil  claimed  a  reward,  and  received  at  least  five  kisses,  which, 
however,  he  generously  returned.  Then  they  came  to  the  door, 
and  from  their  conversation  I  judged  they  were  about  to  issue 
out  and  have  a  walk  on  the  moors.  I  supposed  I  should  be 
condemned  in  Hareton  Earnshaw's  heart,  if  not  by  his  mouth, 
to  the  lowest  pit  in  the  infernal  regions,  if  I  showed  my  unfor- 
tunate person  in  his  neighborhood  then  :  and  feeling  very  mean 
and  malignant,  I  skulked  round  to  seek  refuge  in  the  kitchen. 
There  was  unobstructed  admittance  on  that  side  also;  and  at 
the  door  sat  my  old  friend  Nelly  Dean,  sewing,  and  singing  a 
song,  which  was  often  interrupted  from  within,  by  harsh  words 
of  scorn  and  intolerance,  uttered  in  far  from  musical  accents. 

"  Aw'd  rayther,  by  th'  haulf,  hev  'em  swearing  i'  my  lugs 
frough  morn  tuh  neeght,  nur  hearken  yah,  hahsiver!"  said  the 
tenant  of  the  kitchen,  in  answer  to  an  unheard  speech  of  Nelly's. 
"  It's  a  blazing  shaime,  ut  aw  cannut  oppen  t'  Blessed  Book, 
bud  yah  set  up  them  glories  tuh  Sattan,  un'  all  t'  flaysome 
wickednesses  ut  iver  wer  born  intuh  t'  warld !  Oh  !  yah're  a 
raight  nowt ;  un'  shoo's  another ;  un'  that  poor  lad  'ull  be  lost, 
atween  ye.  Poor  lad  !"  he  added,  with  a  groan,  "  he's  witched, 
aw'm  sartin  on't !  Oh,  Lord,  judge  'em,  fur  they's  norther  law 
nur  justice  amang  wer  rullers  !" 

"  No  !  or  we  should  be  sitting  in  flaming  fagots,  I  suppose," 
retorted  the  singer.  "  But  wisht,  old  man,  and  read  your  Bible, 
like  a  Christian,  and  never  mind  me.  This  is  '  Fairy  Annie's 
Wedding' — a  bonny  tune — it  goes  to  a  dance." 

Mrs.  Dean  was  about  to  recommence  when  I  advanced  ;  and, 
recognizing  me  directly,  she  jumped  to  her  feet,  crying— 

"  Why,  bless  you,  Mr.  Lockwood,  how  could  you  think  of 
returning  in  this  way  ]  All's  shut  up  at  Thrushcross  Grange. 
You  should  have  given  us  notice." 

"I've  arranged  to  be  accommodated  there  for  as  long  as  I 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  265 


shall  stay,"  I  answered.  "I  depart  again  to-morrow.  And 
how  are  you  transplanted  here,  Mrs.  Dean  1  tell  me  that." 

"  Zillah  left,  and  Mr.  Heathcliff  wished  me  to  come,  soon 
after  you  went  to  London,  and  stay  till  you  returned.  But  step 
in,  pray.     Have  you  walked  from  Grimmerton  this  evening]" 

"  From  the  Grange,"  I  replied ;  "  and,  while  they  make  me 
lodging  room  there,  I  want  to  finish  my  business  with  your 
master — I  don't  think  of  having  another  opportunity  in  a  hurry." 

"  What  business,  sir  ?"  said  Nelly,  conducting  me  into  the 
house.     "  He's  gone  out  at  present,  and  won't  return  soon." 

"  About  the  rent,"  I  answered. 

"  Oh  !  then  it  is  with  Mrs.  Heathcliff  you  must  settle,"  she 
observed,  "  or  rather  with  me.  She  has  not  learned  to  manage 
her  affairs  yet,  and  I  act  for  her — there's  nobody  else." 

I  looked  surprised. 

"  Ah  !  you  have  not  heard  of  Heathcliff's  death,  I  see,"  she 
continued. 

"Heathcliff  dead!"  I  exclaimed,  astonished.  "How long  ago?" 

"  Three  months  since.  But  sit  down,  and  let  me  take  your 
hat,  and  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it.  Stop,  you  have  had  nothing 
to  eat,  have  you  V 

tl  I  want  nothing.  I  have  ordered  supper  at  home.  You  sit 
down  too.  I  never  dreamed  of  his  dying.  Let  me  hear  how  it 
came  to  pass.  You  say  you  don't  expect  them  back  for  some 
time — the  young  people  V 

"  No.  I  have  to  scold  them  every  evening  for  their  late  ram- 
bles ;  but  they  don't  care  for  me.  At  least,  have  a  drink  of  our 
old  ale  :  it  will  do  you  good — you  seem  weary." 

She  hastened  to  fetch  it  before  I  could  refuse ;  and  I  heard 
Joseph  asking  whether  "  it  warn't  a  crying  scandal  that  she 
should  have  fellies  at  her  time  of  life  %  And  then,  to  get  them 
jocks  out  uh  t'  maister's  cellar  !  He  fair  shaamed  to  'bide  still 
and  see  it." 

She  did  not  stay  to  retaliate,  but  re-entered  in  a  minute,  bear- 
ing a  creaming  silver  pint,  whose  contents  I  lauded  with  becom- 
ing earnestness  ;  and  afterward  she  furnished  me  with  the  sequel 
of  Heathcliff's  history.  He  had  a  "  queer"  end,  as  she  express- 
ed it. 

I  was  summoned  to  Wuthering  Heights  within  a  fortnight  of 
your  leaving,  she  said,  and  I  obeyed  joyfully  for  Catherine's  sake. 

My  first  interview  with  her  grieved  and  shocked  me,  she  had 
altered  so  much  since  our  separation.     Mr.  Heathcliff  did  not 

M 


266  WUTHERING     HEIGHTS. 

explain  bis  reasons  for  taking  a  new  mind  about  my  coming 
here ;  he  only  told  me  he  wanted  me,  and  he  was  tired  of  see- 
ing Catherine ;  I  must  make  the  little  parlor  my  sitting-room, 
and  keep  her  with  me.  It  was  enough  if  he  were  obliged  to 
see  her  once  or  twice  a  day. 

She  seemed  pleased  at  this  arrangement ;  and,  by  degrees,  I 
smuggled  over  a  great  number  of  books  and  other  articles  that 
had  formed  her  amusement  at  the  Grange,  and  flattered  myself 
we  should  get  on  in  tolerable  comfort. 

The  delusion  did  not  last  long,  Catherine,  contented  at  first, 
in  a  brief  space  grew  irritable  and  restless.  For  one  thing,  she 
was  forbidden  to, move  out  of  the  garden,  and  it  fretted  her  sadly 
to  be  confined  to  its  narrow  bounds  as  spring  drew  on ;  for  an- 
other, in  following  the  house,  I  was  forced  to  quit  her  frequently, 
and  she  complained  of  loneliness  ;  she  preferred  quarreling  with 
Joseph  in  the  kitchen  to  sitting  at  peace  in  her  solitude. 

"  I  did  not  mind  their  skirmishes ;  but  Hareton  was  often 
obliged  to  seek  the  kitchen  also,  when  the  master  wanted  to 
have  the  house  to  himself;  and  though,  in  the  beginning,  she 
either  left  it  at  his  approach,  or  quietly  joined  in  my  occupations, 
and  shunned  remarking  or  addressing  him — and  though  he  was 
always  as  sullen  and  silent  as  possible — after  a  while  she  changed 
her  behavior,  and  became  incapable  of  letting  him  alone.  Talk- 
ing at  him  ;  commenting  on  his  stupidity  and  idleness  ;  express- 
ing her  wonder  how  he  could  endure  the  life  he  lived — how  he 
could  sit  a  whole  evening,  staring  into  the  fire  and  dozing. 

*f  He's  just  like  a  dog,  is  he  not,  Ellen  Vy  she  once  observed, 
"  or  a  cart-horse  1  He  does  his  work,  eats  his  food,  and  sleeps, 
eternally  !  What  a  blank,  dreary  mind  he  must  have  !  Do  you 
ever  dream,  Hareton  1  And,  if  you  do,  what  is  it  about]  But, 
you  can't'speak  to  me!" 

Then  she  looked  at  him;  but  he  would  neither  open  his 
mouth,  nor  look  again. 

"  He's  perhaps,  dreaming  now,"  she  continued.  He  twitched 
his  shoulder  as  Juno  twitches  hers.     Ask  him,  Ellen." 

"  Mr.  Hareton  will  ask  the,  master  to  send  you  up  stairs,  if 
you  don't  behave !"  I  said.  He  had  not  only  twitched  his 
shoulder,  but  clenched  his  fist,  as  if  tempted  to  use  it. 

"  I  know  why  Hareton  never  speaks  when  I  am  in  the  kitch- 
en," she  exclaimed,  on  another  occasion.  "  He  is  afraid  I  shall 
laugh  at  him.  Ellen,  what  do  you  think  ]  He  began  to  teach 
himself  to  read  once;  and,  because  I  laughed,  he  burned  his 
books,  and  dropped  it-—wa&  he  not  a  fool  1" 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  267 


"  Were  not  you  naughty]"  I  said  ;  "  answer  me  that." 

"Perhaps  1  was,"  she  went  on,  "but  I  did  not  expect  him 
to  be  so  silly.  Hareton,  if  I  gave  you  a  book,  would  you  take 
it  now  j     I'll  try  !" 

She  placed  one  she  had  been  perusing  on  his  hand ;  he  flung 
it  off,  and  muttered  if  she  did  not  give  over  he'd  break  her  neck. 

"  Well,  I  shall  put  it  here,"  she  said,  "  in  the  table  drawer, 
and  am  going  to  bed." 

Then  she  whispered  me  to  watch  whether  he  touched  it,  and 
departed.  But  he  would  not  come  near  it,  and  so  I  informed 
her  in  the  morning,  to  her  great  disappointment.  I  saw  she  was 
sorry  for  his  persevering  sulkiness  and  indolence — her  conscience 
reproved  her  for  frightening  him  off  improving  himself.  She 
had  done  it  effectually. 

But  her  ingenuity  was  at  work  to  remedy  the  injury  ;  while  I 
ironed,  or  pursued  other  stationary  employments  I  could  not  well 
do  in  the  parlor — she  would  bring  some  pleasant  volume,  and 
read  it  aloud  to  me.  When  Hareton  was  there,  she  generally 
paused  in  an  interesting  part,  and  left  the  book  lying  about — 
that  she  did  repeatedly  ;  but  he  was  as  obstinate  as  a  mule,  and, 
instead  of  snatching  at  her  bait,  in  wet  weather  he  took  to  smo- 
king with  Joseph,  and  they  sat  like  automata,  one  on  each  side 
of  the  fire,  the  elder  happily  too  deaf  to  understand  her  wicked 
nonsense,  as  he  would  have  called  it ;  the  younger  doing  his 
best  to  seem  to  disregard  it.  On  fine  evenings  the  latter  followed 
his  shooting  expeditions,  and  Catherine  yawned  and  sighed,  and 
teased  me  to  talk  to  her,  and  ran  off  into  the  court  or  garden, 
the  moment  I  began;  and,  as  a  last  resource,  cried,  and  said 
she  was  tired  of  living,  her  life  was  useless. 

Mr.  Heathcliff,  who  grew  more  and  more  disinclined  to  soci- 
ety, had  almost  banished  Earnshaw  out  of  his  apartment.  Owing 
to  an  accident,  at  the  commencement  of  March,  he  became  for 
some  days  a  fixture  in  the  kitchen.  His  gun  burst  while  out  on 
the  hills  by  himself;  a  splinter  cut  his  arm,  and  he  lost  a  good 
deal  of  blood  before  he  could  reach  home.  The  consequence 
was,  that,  perforce,  he  was  condemned  to  the  fireside  and  tran- 
quillity till  he  made  it  up  again. 

It  suited  Catherine  to  have  him  there ;  at  any  rate,  it  made 
her  hate  her  room  up  stairs  more  than  ever;  and  she  would 
compel  me  to  find  out  business  below,  that  she  might  accompa- 
ny me. 

On  Easter  Monday,  Joseph  went  to  Gimmerton  fair  with 
some  cattle ;  and  in  the  afternoon  I  was  busy  getting  up  linen 


268  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

in  the  kitchen.  Earnshaw  sat,  morose  as  usual,  at  the  chimney 
corner,  and  my  little  mistress  was  beguiling  an  idle  hour  with 
drawing  pictures  on  the  window  panes,  varying  her  amusement 
by  smothered  bursts  of  songs,  and  whispering  ejaculations,  and 
quick  glances  of  annoyance  and  impatience  in  the  direction  of 
her  cousin,  who  steadfastly  smoked,  and  looked  into  the  grate. 

At  a  notice  that  I  could  do  with  her  no  longer,  intercepting 
my  light,  she  removed  to  the  hearth-stone.  I  bestowed  little  at- 
tention on  her  proceedings,  but,  presently,  I  heard  her  begin — 

"  I've  found  out,  Hareton,  that  I  want — that  I'm  glad — that 
I  should  like  you  to  be  my  cousin,  now,  if  you  had  not  grown 
so  cross  to  me,  and  so  rough."     Hareton  returned  no  answer. 

"  Hareton,  Hareton,  Hareton !  do  you  hear  V  she  continued. 

"  G-et  off  wi'  ye  !"  he  growled,  with  uncompromising  gruffness. 

"  Let  me  take  that  pipe,"  she  said,  cautiously  advancing  her 
hand,  and  abstracting  it  from  his  mouth. 

Before  he  could  attempt  to  recover  it,  it  was  broken  and  be- 
hind the  fire.     He  swore  at  her  and  seized  another. 

"  Stop,"  she  cried,  "  you  must  listen  to  me,  first;  and  I  can't 
speak  while  those  clouds  are  floating  in  my  face." 

"  Will  you  go  to  the  devil !"  he  exclaimed,  "  and  let  me  be  !" 

"  No,"  she  persisted,  "  I  won't.  I  can't  tell  what  to  do  to 
make  you  talk  to  me,  and  you  are  determined  not  to  under- 
stand. When  I  call  you  stupid,  I  don't  mean  any  thing — I 
don't  mean  that  I  despise  you.  Come,  you  shall  take  notice  of 
me,  Hareton — you  are  my  cousin  and  you  shall  own  me." 

"  I  shall  have  naught  to  do  wi'  you,  and  your  mucky  pride, 
and  your  damned,  mocking  tricks  !"  he  answered.  "  I'll  go  to 
hell,  body  and  soul,  before  I  look  sideways  after  you  again ! 
side  out  of  t'  gait,  now;  this  minute  !" 

Catherine  frowned,  and  retreated  to  the  window-seat,  chew- 
ing her  lip,  and  endeavoring,  by  humming  an  eccentric  tune,  to 
conceal  a  growing  tendency  to  sob. 

"  You  should  be  friends  with  your  cousin,  Mr.  Hareton,"  I 
interrupted,  "since  she  repents  of  her  sauciness!  it  would  do 
you  a  great  deal  of  good — it  would  make  you  another  man,  to 
have  her  for  a  companion." 

"  A  companion  ?"  he  cried ;  "  when  she  hates  me,  and  does 
not  think  me  fit  to  wipe  her  shoon !  Nay,  if  it  made  me  a  king, 
I'd  not  be  scorned  for  seeking  her  good  will  any  more." 

"  It  is  not  I  who  hate  you,  it  is  you  who  hate  me !"  wept 
Cathy,  no  longer  disguising  her  trouble.  "  You  hate  me  as 
much  as  Mr.  Heathcliff  does,  and  more." 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  269 

"  You're  a  damned  liar,"  began  Earnsbaw  ;  "  why  have  I 
made  him  angry  by  taking  your  part,  then,  a  hundred  times  1  and 
that,  when  you  sneered  at,  and  despised  me,  and — .  Go  on 
plaguing  me,  and  I'll  step  in  yonder,  and  say  you  worried  me 
out  of  the  kitchen  !" 

"  I  didn't  know  you  took  my  part,"  she  answered,  drying  her 
eyes  ;  "  and  I  was  miserable  and  bitter  at  every  body ;  but,  now 
I  thank  you,  and  beg  you  to  forgive  me  ;  what  can  I  do  besides]" 

She  returned  to  the  hearth,  and  frankly  extended  her  hand. 

He  blackened,  and  scowled  like  a  thunder-cloud,  and  kept  his 
fists  resolutely  clenched,  and  his  gaze  fixed  on  the  ground. 

Catherine,  by  instinct,  must  have  divined  it  was  obdurate 
perversity,  and  not  dislike,  that  prompted  this  dogged  conduct; 
for,  after  remaining  an  instant,  undecided,  she  stooped,  and  im- 
pressed on  his  cheek  a  gentle  kiss.  The  little  rogue  thought  I 
had  not  seen  her,  and,  drawing  back,  she  took  her  former  sta- 
tion by  the  window,  quite  demurely.  I  shook  my  head  reprov- 
ingly;  and  then  she  blushed,  and  whispered, 

"  Well,  what  should  I  have  done,  Ellen  ]  He  wouldn't  shake 
hands,  and  he  wouldn't  look.  I  must  show  him  some  way  that 
I  like  him — that  I  want  to  be  friends." 

Whether  the  kiss  convinced  Hareton,  I  can  not  tell ;  he  was 
very  careful,  for  some  minutes,  that  his  face  should  not  be  seen  ; 
and  when  he  did  raise  it,  he  was  sadly  puzzled  where  to  turn 
his  eyes. 

Catherine  employed  herself  in  wrapping  a  handsome  book 
neatly  in  white  paper ;  and  having  tied  it  with  a  bit  of  ribbon, 
and  addressed  it  to  "  Mr.  Hareton  Earnshaw,"  she  desired  me 
to  be  her  embassadress,  and  convey  the  present  to  its  destined 
recipient. 

"  And  tell  him,  if  he'll  take  it,  I'll  come  and  teach  him  to 
read  it  light,"  she  said,  "  and,  if  he  refuse  it,  I'll  go  up  stairs, 
and  never  tease  him  again." 

I  carried  it,  and  repeated  the  message,  anxiously  watched  by 
my  employer.  Hareton  would  not  open  his  fingers,  so  I  laid  it 
on  his  knee.  He  did  not  strike  it  off,  either.  I  returned  to  my 
work  :  Catherine  leaned  her  head  and  arms  on  the  table,  till  she 
heard  the  slight  rustle  of  the  covering  being  removed ;  then  she 
stole  away,  and  quietly  seated  herself  beside  her  cousin.  He 
trembled,  and  his  face  glowed — all  his  rudeness  and  all  his 
surly  harshness  had  deserted  him — he  could  not  summon  cour- 
age, at  first,  to  utter  a  syllable,  in  reply  to  her  questioning  look, 
and  her  murmured  petition, 


270  WUTHER  I  N  G      HEIGHT  S. 

"  Say  you  forgive  me,  Hareton,  do !  You  can  make  me  so 
happy,  by  speaking  that  little  word."  He  muttered  something. 
"  And  you'll  be  my  friend  ?"  added  Catherine,  interrogatively. 

"  Nay !  you'll  be  ashamed  of  me  every  day  of  your  life  ;  and. 
the  more,  the  more  you  know  me,  and  I  can  not  abide  it." 

"  So  you  won't  be  my  friend  ?'  she  said,  smiling  as  sweet  as 
honey,  and  creeping  close  up. 

I  overheard  no  further  distinguishable  talk ;  but  on  looking 
round  again,  I  perceived  two  such  radiant  countenances  bent 
over  the  page  of  the  accepted  book,  that  I  did  not  doubt  the 
treaty  had  been  ratified  on  both  sides,  and  the  enemies  were 
thenceforth  sworn  allies. 

The  work  they  studied  was  full  of  costly  pictures ;  and  those 
and  their  position  had  charm  enough  to  keep  them  unmoved,  till 
Joseph  came  home.  He,  poor  man,  was  perfectly  aghast  at  the 
spectacle  of  Catherine  seated  on  the  same  bench  with  Hareton 
Earnshaw,  leaning  her  hand  on  his  shoulder ;  and  confounded, 
at  his  favorite's  endurance  of  her  proximity.  It  affected  him 
too  deeply  to  allow  an  observation  on  the  subject  that  night. 
His  emotion  was  only  revealed  by  the  immense  sighs  he  drew, 
as  he  solemnly  spread  his  large  Bible  on  the  table,  and  overlaid 
it  with  dirty  bank-notes  from  his  pocket-book,  the  produce  of 
the  day's  transactions.     At  length  he  summoned  Hareton. 

"  Tak'  these  in  tuh  t'  maister,  lad,"  he  said,  "  un  bide  theare ; 
aw's  gang  up  tuh  my  awn  rahm.  This  hoile's  norther  mensful 
nor  seemly  fur  us — we  mun  side  aht,  and  seearch  another!" 

"  Come,  Catherine,"  I  said,  "  we  must  ■  side  out,'  too — I've 
done  my  ironing,  are  you  ready  to  go?" 

"It  is  not  eight  o'clock  !"  she  answered,  rising  unwillingly. 
*'  Hareton,  I'll  leave  this  book  upon  the  chimney-piece,  and  I'll 
bring  you  some  more  to-morrow." 

"Ony  books  ut  yah  leave,  aw  shall  tak'  intuh  th'  hahse," 
said  Joseph,  "  un'  it  'ull  be  mitch  if  yah  find  'em  agean ;  soa, 
yah  muh  plase  yourseln  !" 

Cathy  threatened  that  his  library  should  pay  for  hers ;  and, 
smiling  as  she  passed  Hareton,  went  singing  up-stairs,  lighter 
of  heart,  I  venture  to  say,  than  ever  she  had  been  under  that 
roof;  except,  perhaps,  during  her  earliest  visits  to  Linton. 

The  intimacy,  thus  commenced,  grew  rapidly  ;  though  it  en- 
countered temporary  interruptions.  Earnshaw  was  not  to  be 
civilized  with  a  wish ;  and  my  young  lady  was  no  philosopher, 
and  no  paragon  of  patience ;  but  both  their  minds  tending  to 
the  same  point — one  loving  and  desiring  to  esteem  ;  and  thd 


WITHERING      HEIGHTS.  271 

other  loving  and  desiring  to  be  esteemed — they  contrived,  in 
the  end,  to  reach  it. 

You  see,  Mr.  Lockwood,  it  was  easy  enough  to  win  Mrs. 
Heathcliff's  heart;  but  now,  I'm  glad  you  did  not  try — the 
crown  of  all  my  wishes  will  be  the  union  of  those  two ;  I  shall 
envy  no  one  on  their  wedding-day— there  won't  be  a  happier 
woman  than  myself  in  England  ! 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

On  the  morrow  of  that  Monday,  Earnshaw  being  still  unable 
to  follow  his  ordinary  employments,  and,  therefore,  remaining 
about  the  house,  I  speedily  found  it  would  be  impracticable  to 
retain  my  charge  beside  me,  as  heretofore. 

She  got  down  stairs  before  me,  and  out  into  the  garden  ; 
where  she  had  seen  her  cousin  performing  some  easy  work ; 
and  when  I  went  to  bid  them  come  to  breakfast,  I  saw  she  had 
persuaded  him  to  clear  a  large  space  of  ground  from  currant 
and  gooseberry  bushes,  and  they  were  busy  planning  together 
an  importation  of  plants  from  the  Grange. 

I  was  terrified  at  the  devastation  which  had  been  accomplished 
in  a  brief-half  hour;  the  black  currant  trees  were  the  apple  of 
Joseph's  eye,  and  she  had  just  fixed  her  choice  of  a  flower  bed 
in  the  midst  of  them! 

"  There  !  That  will  be  all  shown  to  the  master,"  I  exclaimed, 
"  the  minute  it  is  discovered.  And  what  excuse  have  you  to  offer 
for  taking  such  liberties  with  the  garden  1  We  shall  have  a 
fine  explosion  on  the  head  of  it :  see  if  we  don't !  Mr.  Hare- 
ton,  I  wonder  you  should  have  no  more  wit  than  to  go  and 
make  that  mess  at  her  bidding !" 

"  I'd  forgotten  they  were  Joseph's,"  answered  Earnshaw, 
rather  puzzled,  "  but  I'll  tell  him  I  did  it." 

We  always  ate  our  meals  with  Mr.  HeathclifF.  I  held  the 
mistress's  post  in  making  tea  and  carving;  so  I  was  indispensa- 
ble at  table.  Catherine  usually  sat  by  me;  but  to-day  she 
stole  nearer  to  Hareton,  and  I  presently  saw  she  would  have  no 
more  discretion  in  her  friendship  than  she  had  in  her  hostility. 

"  Now,  mind  you  don't  talk  with  and  notice  your  cousin  too 
much,"  were  my  whispered  instructions  as  we  entered  the 
room  ;  "  It  will  certainly  annoy  Mr.  HeathclifF,  and  he'll  be 
mad  at  you  both." 


272  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

"  I'm  not  going  to,"  she  answered. 

The  minute  after,  she  had  sidled  to  him,  and  was  sticking 
primroses  in  his  plate  of  porridge.  He  dared  not  speak  to  her, 
there  ;  he  dared  hardly  look ;  and  yet  she  went  on  teasing,  till  he 
twice  was  on  the  point  of  being  provoked  to  laugh  ;  and  I  frown- 
ed, and  then  she  glanced  toward  the  master,  whose  mind  was 
occupied  on  other  subjects  than  his  company,  as  his  countenance 
evinced,  and  she  grew  serious  for  an  instant,  scrutinizing  him 
with  deep  gravity.  Afterward  she  turned,  and  recommenced 
her  nonsense  ;  at  last  Hareton  uttered  a  smothered  laugh. 

Mr.  Heath  cliff  started ;  his  eyes  rapidly  surveyed  our  faces. 
Catherine  met  it  with  her  accustomed  look  of  nervousness,  and 
yet  defiance,  which  he  abhorred. 

"  It  is  well  you  are  out  of  my  reach ;"  he  exclaimed.  "  What 
fiend  possesses  you  to  stare  back  at  me,  continually,  with  those 
infernal  eyes  1  Down  with  them  !  and  don't  remind  me  of  your 
existence  again.     I  thought  I  had  cured  you  of  laughing  !" 

"  It  was  me,"  muttered  Hareton. 

"  What  do  you  say  1"  demanded  the  master. 

Hareton  looked  at  his  plate,  and  did  not  repeat  the  confes- 
sion. Mr.  Heathcliff  looked  at  him  a  bit,  and  then  silently  re- 
sumed his  breakfast,  and  his  interrupted  musing. 

We  had  nearly  finished,  and  the  two  young  people  prudently 
shifted  wider  asunder,  so  I  anticipated  no  further  disturbance 
during  that  sitting  ;  when  Joseph  appeared  at  the  door,  reveal- 
ing by  his  quivering  lip  and  furious  eyes,  that  the  outrage  com- 
mitted on  his  precious  shrubs  was  detected. 

He  must  have  seen  Cathy  and  her  cousin  about  the  spot, 
before  he  examined  it,  for  while  his  jaws  worked  like  those  of  a 
cow  chewing  its  cud,  and  rendered  his  speech,  difficult  to  under- 
stand, he  began : 

"  Aw  mun  hev  my  wage,  and  aw  mun  goa  !  Aw  Tied  aimed 
tuh  dee,  wheare  aw'd  sarved  fur  sixty  year;  un'  aw  thowt  aw'd 
lug  my  books  up  intuh  t'  garret,  un'  all  my  bits  uh  stuff,  un'  they 
sud  hev  t'  kitchen  tuh  theirseln ;  fur  t'  sake  uh  quietness.  It 
wur  hard  tuh  gie  up  my  awn  heartshun,  but  aw  thowt  aw  could 
do  that !  But,  nah,  shoo's  taan  my  garden  frough  me,  un'  by 
th'  heart !  Maister,  aw  can  not  stand  it !  Yah  muh  bend  tuh 
th'  yoak,  an  ye  will.  Aw  noan  used  to't  and  an  ow'd  man 
doesn't  sooin  get  used  tuh  new  barthens — aw'd  rayther  arn  my 
bite  an'  my  sup  wi'  a  hammer  in  th'  road  !" 

"Now,  now,  idiot!"  interrupted  Heathcliff,  "cut  it  short! 
What's  your  grievance  %     I'll  interfere  in  no  quarrels  between 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  273 

you  and  Nelly.     She  may  thrust  you  into  the  coal-hole  for  any 
thing  I  care." 

"  It's  noan  Nelly  !"  answered  Joseph.  "  Aw  sudn't  shift  fur 
Nelly.  Nasty,  ill-nowt  as  shoo  is.  Thank  God !  shoo  can  not 
stale  t'sowl  uh  nob'dy  !  Shoo  wer  niver  soa  handsome,  bud 
whet  a  body  mud  look  at  her  'baht  winking.  It's  yon  flaysome, 
graceless  quean,  ut's  witched  ahr  lad,  wi'  her  bold  een,  un  her 
forrard  ways — till.  Nay  !  I  fair  brusts  my  heart !  He's  for- 
getten  all  aw  done  for  him,  un  made  on  him,  un'  goan  un'  riven 
up  a  whole  row  ut  t'  grandest  currant  trees,  i'  t'  garden !"  and 
here  he  lamented  outright,  unmanned  by  a  sense  of  his  bitter 
injuries,  and  Earnshaw's  ingratitude  and  dangerous  condition. 

"  Is  the  fool  drunk  ?"  asked  Mr.  Heathcliff.  "  Hareton  is  it 
you  he's  finding  fault  with  f.M 

"  Iv'e  pulled  up  two  or  three  bushes,"  replied  the  young 
man,  "  but  I'm  going  to  set  'em  again." 

"  And  why  have  you  pulled  them  up  ?"  said  the  master. 

Catherine  wisely  put  in  her  tongue. 

"  We  wanted  to  plant  some  flowers  there,"  she  cried.  "  I'm 
the  only  person  to  blame,  for  I  wished  him  to  do  it." 

"  And  who  the  devil  gave  you  leave  to  touch  a  stick  about 
the  place]"  demanded  her  father-in-law,  much  surprised. 
"And  who  ordered  you  to  obey  her1?"  he  added,  turning  to 
Hareton.     The  latter  was  speechless,  his  cousin  replied — 

"  You  shouldn't  grudge  a  few  yards  of  earth  for  me  to  orna- 
ment, when  you  have  taken  all  my  land  !" 

"  Your  land,  insolent  slut  1  you  never  had  any  !"  said  Heath- 
cliff. 

"  And  my  money,"  she  continued,  returning  his  angry  glare, 
and,  meantime,  biting  a  piece  of  crust,  the  remnant  of  her 
breakfast. 

"  Silence!"  he  exclaimed.     "  Get  done,  and  begone  !" 

"  And  Hareton's  land  and  his  money,"  pursued  the  reckless 
thing.  "  Hareton  and  I  are  friends  now  ;  and  I  shall  tell  him 
all  about  you  !" 

The  master  seemed  confounded  a  moment,  he  grew  pale, 
and  rose  up,  eyeing  her  all  the  while  with  an  expression  of 
mortal  hate. 

"  If  you  strike  me,  Hareton  will  strike  you  !"  she  said,  "  so 
you  may  as  well  sit  down." 

"  If  Hareton  does  not  turn  you  out  of  the  room  I'll  strike 
him  to  hell,"  thundered  Heathcliff.  "  Damnable  witch  !  dare 
you  pretend  to  rouse  him  against  me  1     Off  with  her  !   Do  you 


274  WUT  BERING      HEIGHTS. 

hear  %  Fling  her  into  the  kitchen !  I'll  kill  her,  Ellen  Dean, 
if  you  let  her  come  into  my  sight  again  !" 

Hareton  tried,  under  his  breath,  to  persuade  her  to  go. 

"  Drag  her  away !"  he  cried  savagely.  "  Are  you  staying  to 
talk  V     And  he  approached  to  execute  his  own  command. 

"  He'll  not  obey  you,  wicked  man,  any  more !"  said  Cath- 
erine, "  and  he'll  soon  detest  you  as  much  as  I  do  !" 

"  Wisht  !  wisht!"  muttered  the  young  man  reproachfully. 
"  I  will  not  hear  you  speak  so  to  him.     Have  done  !" 

"  But  you  won't  let  him  strike  me  V1  she  cried. 

"  Come  then  !"  he  whispered  earnestly. 

It  was  too  late— -Heathcliff  had  caught  hold  of  her. 

"Now  you  go !"  he  said  to  Earnshaw.  "Accursed  witch! 
this  time  she  has  provoked  me  when  I  could  not  bear  it ;  and 
I'll  make  her  repent  it  for  ever  !" 

He  had  his  hand  in  her  hair ;  Hareton  attempted  to  release 
the  locks,  entreating  him  not  to  hurt  her,  that  once.  His  black 
eyes  flashed,  he  seemed  ready  to  tear  Catherine  in  pieces,  and 
I  was  just  worked  up  to  risk  going  to  the  rescue,  when,  of  a 
sudden,  his  fingers  relaxed,  he  shifted  his  grasp  from  her  head, 
to  her  arm,  and  gazed  intently  in  her  face.  Then  he  drew  his 
hand  over  his  eyes,  stood  a  moment  to  collect  himself,  appa- 
rently, and  turning  to  Catherine,  said,  with  assumed  calmness, 

"  You  must  learn  to  avoid  putting  me  in  a  passion,  or  I  shall 
really  murder  you  some  time !  go  with  Mrs.  Dean,  and  keep 
with  her,  and  confine  your  insolence  to  her  ears.  As  to  Hare- 
ton Earnshaw,  if  I  see  him  listen  to  you,  I'll  send  him  seeking 
his  bread  where  he  can  get  it !  your  love  will  make  him  an 
outcast  and  a  beggar.  Nelly,  take  her;  and  leave  me,  all  of 
you  !     Leave  me  !" 

I  led  my  young  lady  out ;  she  was  too  glad  of  her  escape 
to  resist ;  the  other  followed,  and  Mr.  Heathcliff  had  the  room 
to  himself  till  dinner. 

I  had  counseled  Catharine  to  get  hers  up-stairs;  but  as  soon 
as  he  perceived  her  vacant  seat,  he  sent  me  to  call  her.  He 
spoke  to  none  of  us,  ate  very  little,  and  went  out  directly  after- 
ward, intimating  that  he  should  not  return  before  evening. 

The  two  new  friends  established  themselves  in  the  house 
during  his  absence,  where  I  heard  Hareton  sternly  check  his 
cousin,  on  her  offering  a  revelation  of  her  father-in-law's  con^ 
duct  to  his  father.  He  said  he  would  not  suffer  a  word  to  be 
tittered  to  him  in  his  disparagement ;  if  he  were  the  devil,  it 
did  not  signify,  he  would  stand  by  him ;    and  he  bad  rather 


WUTHERING       HEIGHTS.  275 

she  would  abuse  himself,  as  she  used  to,  than  begin  on  Mr. 
Heathcliff. 

Catherine  was  waxing  cross  at  this ;  but  he  found  means  to 
make  her  hold  her  tongue,  by  asking  how  she  would  like  him 
to  speak  ill  of  her  father?  and  then  she  comprehended  that 
Earnshaw  took  the  master's  reputation  home  to  himself:  and 
was  attached  by  ties  stronger  than  reason  could  break — chains, 
forged  by  habit,  which  it  would  be  cruel  to  attempt  to  loosen. 

She  showed  a  good  heart,  thenceforth,  in  avoiding  both  com- 
plaints and  expressions  of  antipathy  concerning  Heathcliff; 
and  confessed  to  me  her  sorrow  that  she  had  endeavored  to 
raise  a  bad  spirit  between  him  and  Hareton — indeed,  I  do  not 
believe  she  has  ever  breathed  a  syllable,  in  the  latter's  hearing, 
against  her  oppressor  since. 

When  this  slight  disagreement  was  over,  they  were  thick 
again,  and  as  busy  as  possible  in  their  several  occupations  of 
pupil  and  teacher.  I  came  in  to  sit  with  them,  after  I  had 
done  my  work,  and  I  felt  so  soothed  and  comforted  to  watch 
them,  that  I  did  not  notice  how  time  got  on.  You  know  they 
both  appeared,  in  a  measure,  my  children  :  I  had  long  been 
proud  of  one,  and  now  I  was  sure  the  other  would  be  a  source 
of  equal  satisfaction.  His  honest,  warm,  and  intelligent  nature 
shook  off  rapidly  the  clouds  of  ignorance  and  degradation  in 
which  it  had  been  bred  ;  and  Catherine's  sincere  commendations 
acted  as  a  spur  to  his  industry.  His  brightening  mind  brightened 
his  features,  and  added  spirit  and  nobility  to  their  aspect.  I 
could  hardly  fancy  it  the  same  individual  I  had  beheld  on  the 
day  I  discovered  my  little  lady  at  Wuthering  Heights,  aftef  her 
expedition  to  the  Crags. 

While  I  admired,  and  they  labored,  dusk  drew  on,  and  with 
it  returned  the  master.  He  came  upon  us  quite  unexpectedly, 
entering  by  the  front  way,  and  had  a  full  view  of  the  whole 
three,  ere  we  could  raise  our  heads  to  glance  at  him. 

"  Well,"  I  reflected,  "  there  was  never  a  pleasanter,  or  more 
harmless  sight ;  and  it  will  be  a  burning  shame  to  scold  them." 
The  red  firelight  glowed  on  their  two  bonny  heads,  and  revealed 
their  faces,  animated  with  the  eager  interest  of  children  ;  for 
though  he  was  twenty-three,  and  she  eighteen,  each  had  so 
much  of  novelty  to  feel  and  learn,  that  neither  experienced  nor 
evinced  the  sentiments  of  sober  disenchanted  maturity. 

They  lifted  their  eyes  together  to  encounter  Mr.  Heathcliff— 
perhaps  you  have  never  remarked  that  their  eyes  are  precisely 
similar,    and   they   are   those    of  Catherine   Earnshaw.     The 


21Q  WUT  BERING      HEIGHTS. 

present  Catherine  has  no  other  likeness  to  her  except  a  breadth 
of  forehead  and  a  certain  arch  of  the  nostril,  that  makes  her 
appear  rather  haughty,  whether  she  will  or  not.  With  Hare- 
ton  the  resemblance  is  carried  farther,  it  is  singular  at  all  times — 
then  it  was  particularly  striking ;  because  his  senses  were  alert 
and  his  mental  faculties  wakened  to  unwonted  activity. 

I  supposed  this  resemblance  disarmed  Mr.  HeathclifF:  he 
walked  to  the  hearth  in  evident  agitation,  but  it  quickly  sub- 
sided as  he  looked  at  the  young  man  ;  or,  1  should  say,  altered 
its  character,  for  it  was  there  yet. 

He  took  the  book  from  his  hand,  and  glanced  at  the  open 
page,  then  returned  it  without  any  observation  ;  merely  signing 
Catherine  away.  Her  companion  lingered  very  little  behind 
her,  and  I  was  about  to  depart  also,  but  he  bid  me  sit  still. 

"  It  is  a  poor  conclusion,  is  it  not  $"  he  observed,  having 
brooded  a  while  on  the  scene  he  had  just  witnessed.  "  An  ab- 
surd termination  to  my  violent  exertions  ]  I  get  levers  and 
mattocks  to  demolish  the  two  houses,  and  train  myself  to  be 
capable  of  working  like  Hercules,  and  when  every  thing  is 
ready  and  in  my  power,  I  find  the  will  to  lift  a  slate  off  either 
roof  has  vanished  !  My  old  enemies  have  not  beaten  me — now 
would  be  the  precise  time  to  revenge  myself  on  their  repre- 
sentatives. I  could  do  it,  and  none  could  hinder  me  ;  but 
where  is  the  use  %  I  don't  care  for  striking — I  can't  take  the 
trouble  to  raise  my  hand  !  That  sounds  as  if  I  had  been  la- 
boring the  whole  time  only  to  exhibit  a  fine  trait  of  magnanimity. 
It  is  far  from  being  the  case.  I  have  lost  the  faculty  of  enjoying 
their  destruction,  and  I  am  too  idle  to  destroy  for  nothing. 

"  Nelly,  there  is  a  strange  change  approaching  ;  I'm  in  its 
shadow  at  present.  I  take  so  little  interest  in  my  daily  life, 
that  I  hardly  remember  to  eat  and  drink.  Those  two,  who 
have  left  the  room,  are  the  only  objects  which  retain  a  distinct 
material  appearance  to  me ;  and  that  appearance  causes  me 
pain,  amounting  to  agony.  About  her  I  won't  speak,  and  I 
don't  desire  to  think  ;  but  I  earnestly  wish  she  were  invisible — 
her  presence  invokes  only  maddening  sensations.  He  moves 
me  differently  ;  and  yet  if  I  could  do  it  without  seeming  insane, 
I'd  never  see  him  again  !  You'll  perhaps  think  me  rather  in- 
clined to  become  so,"  he  added,  making  an  effort  to  smile,  "  if 
I  try  to  describe  the  thousand  forms  of  past  associations  and 
ideas  he  awakens  or  embodies.  But  you'll  not  talk  of  what  I 
tell  you,  and  my  mind  is  so  eternally  secluded  in  itself,  it  is 
tempting  at  last  to  turn  it  out  to  another. 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  277 

"  Five  minutes  ago  Hareton  seemed  a  personification  of  my 
youth,  not  a  human  being.  I  felt  to  him  in  such  a  variety  of 
ways,  that  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  have  accosted  him 
rationally. 

"  In  the  first  place,  his  startling  likeness  to  Catherine  con- 
nected him  fearfully  with  her.  That,  however,  which  you  may 
suppose  the  most  potent  to  arrest  my  imagination  is  actually 
the  least ;  for  what  is  not  connected  with  her  to  me  %  and  what 
does  not  recall  her  %  I  can  not  look  down  to  this  floor  but  her 
features  are  shaped  on  the  flags  !  In  every  cloud,  in  every 
tree — filling  the  air  at  night,  and  caught  by  glimpses  in  every 
object  by  day — I  am  surrounded  with  her  image  !  The  most 
ordinary  faces  of  men  and  women — my  own  features  mock  me 
with  a  resemblance.  The  entire  world  is  a  dreadful  collection 
of  memoranda  that  she  did  exist,  and  that  I  have  lost  her  ! 

"  Well,  Hareton's  aspect  was  the  ghost  of  my  immortal  love, 
of  my  wild  endeavors  to  hold  my  right ;  my  degradation,  my 
pride,  my  happiness,  and  my  anguish.  But  it  is  frenzy  to  re- 
peat these  thoughts  to  you  ;  only  it  will  let  you  know  why,  with 
a  reluctance  to  be  always  alone,  his  society  is  no  benefit,  rather 
an  aggravation  of  the  constant  torment  I  suffer — and  it  partly 
contributes  to  render  me  regardless  how  he  and  his  cousin  go 
on  together.     I  can  give  them  no  attention  any  more. 

"  But  what  do  you  mean  by  a  change,  Mr.  HeathclifH"  I 
said,  alarmed  at  his  manner,  though  he  was  neither  in  danger 
of  losing  his  senses  nor  dying  ;  according  to  my  judgment,  he 
was  quite  strong  and  healthy ;  and  as  to  his  reason,  from  child- 
hood he  had  a  delight  in  dwelling  on  dark  things,  and  enter- 
taining odd  fancies  :  he  might  have  had  a  monomania  on  the 
subject  of  his  departed  idol ;  but  on  every  other  point  his  wits 
were  as  sound  as  mine. 

"  I  shall  not  know  that  till  it  comes,"  he  said,  "  I'm  only  half 
conscious  of  it  now." 

"  You  have  no  feeling  of  illness,  have  you  V  I  asked. 

"  No,  Nelly,  I  have  not,"  he  answered. 

"  Then,  you  are  not  afraid  of  death  %"  I  pursued. 

"Afraid]  No!"  he  replied.  "I  have  neither  a  fear,  nor  a 
presentiment,  nor  a  hope  of  death.  Why  should  I  %  With  my 
hard  constitution,  and  temperate  mode  of  living,  and  unperilous 
occupations,  I  ought  to,  and  probably  shall  remain  above  ground, 
till  there  is  scarcely  a  black  hair  on  my  head.  And  yet  I  can 
not  continue  in  this  condition  !  I  have  to  remind  myself  to 
breathe — almost  to  remind  my  heart  to  beat !     And  it  is  like 


278  WITHERING     HEIGHTS. 

,  ,  ,  , „_, , ■, ; a — i — ,   --tr-^^-Tmr, 

bending  back  a  stiff  spring — it  is  by  compulsion  that  I  do  the 
slightest  act,  not  prompted  by  one  thought;  and  by  compulsion 
that  I  notice  any  thing  alive  or  dead,  which  is  not  associated 
with  one  universal  idea.  I  have  a  single  wish,  and  my  whole 
being  and  faculties  are  yearning  to  attain  it.  They  have 
yearned  toward  it  so  long  and  so  unwaveringly,  that  I'm  con- 
vinced it  will  be  reached— and  soon — because  it  has  devoured 
my  existence.  I  am  swallowed  in  the  anticipation  of  its  fulfill- 
ment. My  Confessions  have  not  relieved  me — but,  they  may 
account  for  some  otherwise  unaccountable  phases  of  humor 
which  I  show.    Oh,  God !    It's  a  long  fight,  I  wish  it  were  over !" 

He  began  to  pace  the  room,  muttering  terrible  things  to 
himself,  till  I  was  inclined  to  believe,  as  he  said  Joseph  did* 
that  conscience  had  turned  his  heart  to  an  earthly  hell.  I  won- 
dered greatly  how  it  would  end. 

Though  he  seldom  before  had  revealed  this  state  of  mind, 
even  by  looks,  it  was  his  habitual  mood,  I  had  no  doubt :  he 
asserted  it  himself — but  not  a  soul,  from  his  general  bearing, 
would  have  conjectured  the  fact.  You  did  not,  when  you  saw 
him,  Mr.  Lockwood — and  at  the  period  of  Which  I  speak  he 
was  just  the  same  as  then,  only  fonder  of  continued  solitude, 
and  perhaps  still  more  laconic  in  company. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

For  some  days  after  that  evening  Mr.  Heathcliff  shunned 
meeting  us  at  meals ;  yet  he  Would  not  consent  formally  to 
exclude  Hareton  and  Cathy.  He  had  an  aversion  to  yielding 
so  completely  to  bis  feelings,  choosing,  rather,  to  absent  himself; 
and  eating  once  in  twenty-four  hours  seemed  sufficient  suste- 
nance for  him. 

One  night,  after  the  family  were  in  bed,  I  heard  him  go  down 
stairs,  and  out  at  the  front  door :  I  did  not  hear  him  re-enter, 
and  in  the  morning  I  found  he  was  still  away.  We  were  in 
April  then,  the  weather  was  sweet  and  warm,  the  grass  as  green 
as  showers  and  sun  could  make  it,  and  the  two  dwarf  apple 
trees  near  the  southern  wall  in  full  bloom. 

After  breakfast,  Catherine  insisted  on  my  bringing  a  ehah% 
and  sitting,  with  my  work,  under  the  fir-trees  at  the  end  of  the 
house ;  and  she  beguiled  Hareton,  who  had  recovered  from  his 


WUTHERINO      HEIGHTS.  279 

accident,  to  dig  and  arrange  her  little  garden,  which  was  shifted 
to  that  corner  by  the  influence  of  Joseph's  complaints. 

I  was  comfortably  revelling  in  the  spring  fragrance  around, 
and  the  beautiful  soft  blue  overhead,  when  my  young  lady,  who 
had  run  down  near  the  gate,  to  procure  some  primrose  root3 
for  a  border,  returned  only  half  laden,  and  informed  us  that 
Mr.  HeathclifF  was  coming  in. 

"  And  he  spoke  to  me,"  she  added  with  a  perplexed  look. 

"  What  did  he  say  V  asked  Hareton. 

"  He  told  me  to  begone  as  fast  as  I  could,"  she  answered. 
"  But  he  looked  so  different  from  his  usual  look  that  I  stopped 
a  moment  to  stare  at  him." 

"  How  ??'  he  inquired. 

"  Why,  almost  bright  and  cheerful — no,  almost  nothing — 
very  much  excited,  and  wild  and  glad  !"  she  replied. 

"  Night-walking  amuses  him,  then,"  I  remarked,  affecting  a 
careless  manner ;  in  reality  as  surprised  as  she  was,  and  anxious 
to  ascertain  the  truth  of  her  statement,  for  to  see  the  master 
looking  glad  would  not  be  an  every-day  spectacle,  I  framed  an 
excuse  to  go  in. 

Heathcliff  stood  at  the  open  door ;  he  was  pale,  and  he  trem- 
bled ;  yet,  certainly,  he  had  a  strange  joyful  glitter  in  his  eyes, 
that  altered  the  aspect  of  his  whole  face. 

"  Will  you  have  some  breakfast  V*  I  said.  "  You  must  be 
hungry,  rambling  about  all  night!" 

"  I  wanted  to  discover  where  he  had  been  ;  but  I  did  not  like 
to  ask  directly. 

"  No,  I'm  not  hungry,"  he  answered,  averting  his  head,  and 
speaking  rather  contemptuously,  as  if  he  guessed  I  was  trying 
to  divine  the  occasion  of  his  good  humor. 

I  felt  perplexed — I  didn't  know  whether  it  were  not  a  proper 
opportunity  to  offer  a  bit  of  admonition. 

"  I  don't  think  it  right  to  wander  out  of  doors,"  I  observed, 
"  instead  of  being  in  bed  :  it  is  not  wise,  at  any  rate,  this  moist 
season.  I  dare  say  you'll  catch  a  bad  cold,  or  a  fever — you 
have  something  the  matter  with  you  now  !" 

II  Nothing  but  what  I  can  bear,"  he  replied,  "  and  with  the 
greatest  pleasure,  provided  you'll  leave  me  alone — get  in,  and 
don't  annoy  me." 

I  obeyed ;  and,  in  passing,  I  saw  he  breathed  as  fast  as  a  cat. 
"Yes!"  I  reflected  to  myself,  "we  shall  have  a  fit  of  illness. 
I  can  not  conceive  what  he  has  been  doing  !" 

That  noon,  he  sat  down  to  dinner  with  us,  and  received  a 


280  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

heaped-up  plate  from  my  hands,  as  if  he  intended  to  make 
amends  for  previous  fasting. 

"  I've  neither  cold  nor  fever,  Nelly,"  he  remarked,  in  allusion 
to  my  morning's  speech.  "And  I'm  ready  to  do  justice  to  the 
food  you  give  me." 

He  took  his  knife  and  fork,  and  was  going  to  commence 
eating,  when  the  inclination  appeared  to  become  suddenly  ex- 
tinct. He  laid  them  on  the  table,  looked  eagerly  toward  the 
window,  then  rose  and  went  out.  We  saw  him  walking,  to  and 
fro,  in  the  garden,  while  we  concluded  our  meal ;■  and  Eam- 
shaw  said  he'd  go  and  ask  why  he  would  not  dine  ;  he  thought 
we  had  grieved  him  some  way. 

"  Well,  is  he  coming]"  cried  Catherine,  when  he  returned. 

"  Nay,"  he  answered,  "  but  he's  not  angry ;  he  seemed  rare 
and  pleased  indeed  ;  only  I  made  him  impatient  by  speaking 
to  him  twice  ;  and  then  he  bid  me  be  off  to  you  ;  he  wondered 
how  I  could  want  the  company  of  any  body  else." 

I  set  his  plate  to  keep  warm  on  the  fender ;  and  after  an  hour 
or  two  he  re-entered,  when  the  room  was  clear ;  in  no  degree 
calmer — the  same  unnatural — it  was  unnatural — appearance  of 
joy  under  his  black  brows ;  the  same  bloodless  hue  ;  and  his 
teeth  visible  now  and  then  in  a  kind  of  smile ;  his  frame  shiver- 
ing, not  as  one  shivers  with  chill  or  weakness,  but  as  a  tight- 
stretched  cord  vibrates — a  strong  thrilling  rather  than  trem- 
bling. 

"  I  will  ask  what  is  the  matter,"  I  thought,  "  or  who  should  ?" 
And  I  exclaimed — "  Have  you  heard  any  good  news,  Mr. 
Heath  cliff  1     You  look  uncommonly  animated." 

"  Where  should  good  news  come  from  to  me  ?"  he  said. 
"  I'm  animated  with  hunger;  and,  seemingly,  I  must  not  eat." 

"  Your  dinner  is  here,"  I  returned  ;  "  why  won't  you  get  it  1" 

"  I  don't  want  it  now,"  he  muttered  hastily.  "  I'll  wait  till 
supper.  And,  Nelly,  once  for  all,  let  me  beg  you  to  warn 
Hareton  and  the  other  away  from  me.  I  wish  to  be  troubled 
by  nobody — I  wish  to  have  this  place  to  myself." 

"  Is  there  some  new  reason  for  this  banishment  V  I  inquired. 
"  Tell  me  why  you  are  so  queer,  Mr.  Heathcliff  1  Where  were 
you  last  night  1  I'm  not  putting  the  question  through  idle  cu- 
riosity, but" — 

"  You  are  putting  the  question  through  very  idle  curiosity," 
he  interrupted,  with  a  laugh.  "  Yet  I'll  answer  it.  Last  night 
I  was  on  the  threshold  of  hell.  To-day  I  am  within  sight  of  my 
heaven — I  have  my  eves  on  it — hardly  three  feet  to  sever  me ! 


WUTHERING     HEIGHTS.  281 

And  now  you'd  better  go.  You'll  neither  see  nor  hear  any- 
thing to  frighten  you,  if  you  refrain  from  prying." 

Having  swept  the  hearth  and  wiped  the  table,  T  departed, 
more  perplexed  than  ever.  He  did  not  quit  the  house  again 
that  afternoon,  and  no  one  intruded  on  his  solitude  till,  at  eight 
o'clock,  I  deemed  it  proper,  though  unsummoned,  to  carry  a 
candle,  and  his  supper  to  him. 

He  was  leaning  against  the  ledge  of  an  open  lattice,  but  not 
looking  out ;  his  face  was  turned  to  the  interior  gloom.  The 
fire  had  smoldered  to  ashes ;  the  room  was  filled  with  the  damp, 
mild  air  of  the  cloudy  evening ;  and  so  still,  that  not  only  the 
murmur  of  the  beck  down  Gimmerton  was  distinguishable,  but 
its  ripples,  and  its  gurgling  over  the  pebbles,  or  through  the 
large  stones  which  it  could  not  cover. 

I  uttered  an  ejaculation  of  discontent  at  seeing  the  dismal 
grate,  and  commenced  shutting  the  casements,  one  after  an- 
other, till  I  came  to  his. 

"  Must  I  close  this '?"  I  asked,  in  order  to  rouse  him,  for  he 
would  not  stir. 

The  light  flashed  on  his  features,  as  I  spoke.  Oh,  Mr.  Lock- 
wood,  I  can  not  express  what  a  terrible  start  I  got,  by  the  mo- 
mentary view  !  Those  deep  black  eyes  !  That  smile,  and  ghast- 
ly paleness  !  It  appeared  to  me,  not  Mr.  Heathcliff,  but  a  goblin  ; 
and,  in  my  terror,  I  let  the  candle  bend  toward  the  wall,  and  it 
left  me  in  darkness. 

"  Yes,  close  it,"  he  replied,  in  his  familiar  voice.  "  There, 
that  is  pure  awkwardness  !  Why  did  you  hold  the  candle  hori- 
zontally'?    Be  quick,  and  bring  another." 

I  hurried  out  in  a  foolish  state  of  dread,  and  said  to  Joseph — 

"  The  master  wishes  you  to  take  him  a  light,  and  rekindle  the 
fire."     For  I  dare  not  go  in  myself  again  just  then. 

Joseph  rattled  some  fire  into  the  shovel,  and  went;  but  he 
brought  it  back  immediately,  with  the  supper  tray  in  his  other 
hand,  explaining  that  Mr.  Heathcliff  was  going  to  bed,  and  he 
wanted  nothing  to  eat  till  morning. 

"VVe  heard  him  mount  the  stairs  directly ;  he  did  not  proceed 
to  his  ordinary  chamber,  but  turned  into  that  with  the  paneled 
bed — its  window,  as  I  mentioned  before,  is  wide  enough  for 
any  body  to  get  through,  and  it  struck  me  that  he  plotted  an- 
other midnight  excursion,  which  he  had  rather  we  had  no  sus- 
picion of. 

"  Is  he  a  ghoul,  or  a  vampire  !"  I  mused.  I  had  read  of 
such  hideous,  incarnate  demons.     And  then,  I  set  myself  to  rer 


$$&  WUTHERING     H  fe  I  6  B  T  S. 


fleet  bow  I  had  tended  him  in  infancy;  and  watched  him  grow 
to  youth  ;  and  followed  him  almost  through  his  whole  course  j 
and  what  nonsense  it  was  to  yield  to  that  sense  of  horror. 

"  But,  where  did  he  come  from,  the  little  dark  thing,  harbor- 
ed by  a  good  man  to  his  bane?"  muttered  superstition,  as  I 
dozed  into  unconsciousness.  And  I  began,  half  dreaming,  to 
weary  myself  with  imagining  some  fit  parentage  for  him  ;  and 
repeating  my  waking  meditations,  I  tracked  his  existence  over 
again,  with  grim  variations ;  at  last,  picturing  his  death  and 
funeral;  of  Which,  all  1  can  remember  is,  being  exceedingly 
vexed  at  having  the  task  of  dictating  an  inscription  for  his  monu- 
ment, and  consulting  the  sexton  about  it ;  and,  as  he  had  no 
surname,  and  we  could  not  tell  his  age,  we  were  obliged  to 
content  ourselves  with  the  single  word,  "HeathcliC"  That 
came  true — we  Were.  If  you  enter  the  kirkyard>  you'll  read  on 
his  headstone  only  that,  and  the  date  of  his  death.  Dawn  re- 
stored me  to  common  sense.  I  rose,  and  went  into  the  garden* 
as  soon  as  I  could  see,  to  ascertain  if  there  were  any  foot-marks 
under  his  window.     There  were  none. 

"He  has  staid  at  home,"  I  thought,  "  and  he'll  be  all  right 
to-day!" 

I  prepared  breakfast  for  the  household,  as  was  my  usual 
custom,  but  told  Hareton  and  Catherine  to  get  theirs  ere  the 
master  came  down,  for  he  lay  late.  They  preferred  taking  it 
out  of  doors,  under  the  trees,  and  I  set  a  little  table  to  accom- 
modate them. 

On  my  re-entrance,  I  found  Mr.  Heathcliff  below.  He  and 
Joseph  were  conversing  about  some  farming  business;  he  gave 
dear,  minute  directions  concerning  the  matter  discussed,  but 
he  spoke  rapidly*  and  turned  his  head  continually  aside*  and 
had  the  same  excited  expression,  even  more  exaggerated. 

When  Joseph  quitted  the  room,  he  took  his  seat  in  the  place 
he  generally  chose,  and  I  put  a  basin  of  coffee  before  him.  He 
drew  it  nearer,  and  then  rested  his  arms  on  the  table,  and  looked 
at  the  opposite  wall,  as  I  supposed,  Surveying  one  particular 
portion,  up  and  downj  with  glittering,  restless  eyes,  and  with 
such  eager  interest,  that  he  stopped  breathing,  during  half  a 
minute  together. 

"'  Come,  now,"  I  exclaimed,  pushing  some  bread  against  his 
hand.  "  Eat  and  drink  that  while  it  is  hot.  It  has  been  wait- 
ing near  an  hour." 

He  didn't  notice  me,  and  yet  he  smiled.  I'd  rather  have 
seen  him  gnash  his  teeth  than  smile  so. 


WUTHER1NG     HEIGHTS.  283 

"  Mr.  Heathcliff !  master  !"  I  cried.  "  Don't,  for  God's  sake, 
stare  as  if  you  saw  an  unearthly  vision." 

"  Don't,  for  God's  sake,  shout  so  loud,"  he  replied.  "  Turn 
round,  and  tell  me,  are  we  by  ourselves  V 

"  Of  course,"  was  my  answer,  "  of  course  we  are  !" 

Still  I  involuntarily  obeyed  him,  as  if  I  were  not  quite  sure. 
With  a  sweep  of  his  hand,  he  cleared  a  vacant  space  in  front 
among  the  breakfast  things,  and  leaned  forward  to  gaze  more 
at  his  ease. 

Now  I  perceived  he  was  not  looking  at  the  wall,  for  when  I 
regarded  him  alone,  it  seemed,  exactly,  that  he  gazed  at  some- 
thing within  two  yards  distance.  And,  whatever  it  was,  it 
communicated,  apparently,  both  pleasure  and  pain,  in  exquisite 
extremes ;  at  least  the  anguished  yet  raptured  expression  of  his 
countenance  suggested  that  idea. 

The  fancied  object  was  not  fixed  either ;  his  eyes  pursued  it 
with  unwearied  vigilance,  and,  even  in  speaking  to  me,  were 
never  weaned  away. 

I  vainly  reminded  him  of  his  protracted  abstinence  from  food. 
If  he  stirred  to  touch  any  thing  in  compliance  with  my  entreaties 
— if  he  stretched  his  hand  out  to  get  a  piece  of  bread — his  fingers 
clenched  before  they  reached  it,  and  remained  on  the  table,  for- 
getful of  their  aim. 

I  sat,  a  model  of  patience,  trying  to  attract  his  absorbed  at- 
tention from  its  engrossing  speculation,  till  he  grew  irritable  and 
got  up,  asking  why  I  would  not  allow  him  to  have  his  own  time 
in  taking  his  meals  1  and  saying  that  on  the  next  occasion  I 
needn't  wait — I  might  set  the  things  down  and  go.  Having 
uttered  these  words,  he  left  the  house,  slowly  sauntered  down 
the  garden  path,  and  disappeared  through  the  gate. 

The  hours  crept  anxiously  by  :  another  evening  came.  I  did 
not  retire  to  rest  till  late,  and  when  I  did  I  could  not  sleep.  He 
returned  after  midnight,  and,  instead  of  going  to  bed,  shut  him- 
self into  the  room  beneath.  I  listened  and  tossed  about,  and 
finally  dressed  and  descended.  It  was  too  irksome  to  lie  up 
there,  harassing  my  brain  with  a  hundred  idle  misgivings. 

I  distinguished  Mr.  Heathcliff's  step,  restlessly  measuring  the 
floor ;  and  he  frequently  broke  the  silence  by  a  deep  inspiration, 
resembling  a  groan.  He  muttered  detached  words  also ;  the 
only  one  I  could  catch  was  the  name  of  Catherine,  coupled 
with  some  wild  term  of  endearment  or  suffering,  and  spoken  as 
one  would  speak  to  a  person  present — low  and  earnest,  and 
wrung  from  the  depth  of  his  soul. 


284  WUTHERING      HEIGHTS. 

I  had  not  courage  to  walk  straight  into  the  apartment;  but  I 
desired  to  divert  him  from  his  revery,  and  therefore  fell  foul  of 
the  kitchen  fire ;  stirred  it  and  began  to  scrape  the  cinders.  It 
drew  him  forth  sooner  than  I  expected.  He  opened  the  door 
immediately,  and  said — 

"  Nelly,  come  here — is  it  morning  1    Come  in  with  your  light." 

"  It  is  striking  four,"  I  answered ;  "  you  want  a  candle  to 
take  up-stairs— you  might  have  lighted  one  at  this  fire." 

"No,  I  don't  wish  to  go  up-stairs,"  he  said.  "  Come  in,  and 
kindle  me  a  fire,  and  do  any  thing  there  is  to  do  about  the  room." 

"  I  must  blow  the  coals  red  first,  before  I  can  carry  any,"  I 
replied,  getting  a  chair  and  the  bellows. 

He  roamed  to  and  fro,  meantime,  in  a  state  approaching  dis- 
traction, his  heavy  sighs  succeeding  each  other  so  thick  as  to 
leave  no  space  for  common  breathing  between. 

"  When  day  breaks,  I'll  send  for  Green,"  he  said ;  "  I  wish  to 
make  some  legal  inquiries  of  him,  while  I  can  bestow  a  thought 
on  those  matters,  and  while  I  can  act  calmly.  I  have  not 
written  my  will  yet,  and  how  to  leave  my  property  I  can  not 
determine !  I  wish  I  could  annihilate  it  from  the  face  of  the 
earth." 

"  I  would  not  talk  so,  Mr.  Heathcliff,"  I  interposed.  "  Let 
your  will  be  a  while — you'll  be  spared  to  repent  of  your  many  in- 
justices yet !  I  never  expected  that  your  nerves  would  be  dis- 
ordered— they  are,  at  present,  marvelously  so,  however;  and 
almost  entirely  through  your  own  fault.  The  way  you've  passed 
these  three  last  days  might  knock  up  a  Titan.  Do  take  some 
food  and  some  repose.  You  need  only  look  at  yourself  in  a 
glass  to  see  how  you  require  both.  Your  cheeks  are  hollow 
and  your  eyes  bloodshot,  like  a  person  starving  with  hunger  and 
going  blind  with  loss  of  sleep." 

"  It  is  not  my  fault,  that  I  can  not  eat  or  rest,"  he  replied. 
"  I  assure  you  it  is  through  no  settled  designs.  I'll  do  both  as 
soon  as  I  possibly  can.  But  you  might  as  well  bid  a  man 
struggling  in  the  water,  rest  within  arms-length  of  the  shore  !  I 
must  reach  it  first,  and  then  I'll  rest.  Well,  never  mind  Mr. 
Green  ;  as  to  repenting  of  my  injustices,  I've  done  no  injustice, 
and  I  repent  of  nothing.  I'm  too  happy,  and  yet  I'm  not  happy 
enough.  My  soul's  bliss  kills  my  body,  but  does  not  satisfy  it- 
self." 

"Happy,  master1?"  I  cried.  "Strange  happiness!  If  you 
would  hear  me  without  being  angry,  I  might  offer  some  advice 
that  would  make  you  happier." 


WUTHERING      HEIGHTS.  285 

"  What  is  that  V  he  asked.     "  Give  it." 

"  You  are  aware,  Mr.  Heathcliff,"  I  said,  "  that  from  the  time 
you  were  thirteen  years  old,  you  have  lived  a  selfish,  unchrist- 
ian life  :  and  probably  hardly  had  a  Bible  in  your  hands,  during 
all  that  period.  You  must  have  forgotten  the  contents  of  the 
book,  and  you  may  not  have  space  to  search  it  now.  Could  it 
be  hurtful  to  send  for  some  one — some  minister  of  any  denomi- 
nation, it  does  not  matter  which,  to  explain  it,  and  show  you 
how  very  far  you  have  erred  from  its  precepts,  and  how  unfit 
you  will  be  for  its  heaven,  unless  a  change  takes  place  before 
you  die?" 

"  I'm  rather  obliged  than  angry,  Nelly,"  he  said,  "for  you  re- 
mind me  of  the  manner  that  I  desire  to  be  buried  in.  It  is  to 
be  carried  to  the  churchyard  in  the  evening.  You  and  Hareton 
may,  if  you  please,  accompany  me — and  mind,  particularly,  to 
notice  that  the  sexton  obeys  my  directions  concerning  the  two 
coffins  !  No  minister  need  come ;  nor  need  any  thing  be  said 
over  me.  I  tell  you,  I  have  nearly  attained  my  heaven  ;  and 
that  of  others  is  altogether  unvalued  and  uncoveted  by  me  !" 

"  And  supposing  you  persevered  in  your  obstinate  fast,  and 
died  by  that  means,  and  they  refused  to  bury  you  in  the  pre- 
cincts of  the  kirk  V*  I  said,  shocked  at  his  godless  indifference. 
"  How  would  you  like  it?" 

"  They  won't  do  that,"  he  replied,  "  if  they  did,  you  must 
have  me  removed  secretly  ;  and  if  you  neglect  it,  you  shall 
prove,  practically,  that  the  dead  are  not  annihilated !" 

As  soon  as  he  heard  the  other  members  of  the  family  stirring, 
he  retired  to  his  den,  and  I  breathed  freer.  But  in  the  after- 
noon, while  Joseph  and  Hareton  were  at  their  work,  he  came 
into  the  kitchen  again,  and,  with  a  wild  look,  bid  me  come  and 
sit  in  the  house — he  wanted  somebody  with  him. 

I  declined,  telling  him  plainly  that  his  strange  talk  and  man- 
ner fiightened  me,  and  I  had  neither  the  nerve  nor  the  will  to 
be  his  companion  alone. 

"  I  believe  you  think  me  a  fiend !"  he  said,  with  his  dismal 
laugh,  "  something  too  horrible  to  live  under  a  decent  roof!" 

Then  turning  to  Catherine,  who  was  there,  and  who  drew 
behind  me  at  his  approach,  he  added,  half  sneeringly. 

"  Will  you  come,  chuck  ?"  I'll  not  hurt  you.  No  !  to  you, 
I've  made  myself  worse  than  the  devil.  Well,  there  is  one  who 
won't  shrink  from  my  company  !  By  God  !  she's  relentless. 
Oh,  damn  it !  It's  unutterably  too  much  for  flesh  and  blood  to 
bear,  even  mine." 


286  WUTHER1N6     HEIGHTS. 

He  solicited  the  society  of  no  one  more.  At  dusk  he  went 
into  his  chamber.  Through  the  whole  night,  and  far  into  the 
morning,  we  heard  him  groaning  and  murmuring  to  himself. 
Hareton  was  anxious  to  enter,  but  I  bid  him  fetch  Mr.  Kenneth, 
and  he  should  go  in  and  see  him. 

When  he  came,  and  I  requested  admittance  and  tried  to  open 
the  door,  I  found  it  locked  ;  and  HeathclifF  bid  us  be  damned. 
He  was  better,  and  would  be  left  alone;  so  the  doctor  went 
away. 

The  following  evening  was  very  wet,  indeed  it  poured  down 
till  day-dawn  ;  and,  as  I  took  my  morning  walk  round  the 
house,  I  observed  the  master's  window  swinging  open,  and  the 
rain  driving  straight  in. 

"  He  can  not  be  in  bed,"  I  thought,  *  those  showers  would 
drench  him  through  !  He  must  be  either  up  or  out.  But  I'll 
make  no  more  ado,  I'll  go  boldly,  and  look  !" 

Having  succeeded  in  obtaining  entrance  with  another  key,  I 
ran  to  unclose  the  panels,  for  the  chamber  was  vacant — quickly 
pushing  them  aside,  I  peeped  in.  Mr.  HeathclifF  was  there — 
laid  on  his  back.  His  eyes  met  mine,  so  keen  and  fierce  that  I 
started  ;  and  then  he  seemed  to  smile. 

I  could  not  think  him  dead — but  his  face  and  throat  were 
washed  with  rain  ;  the  bed-clothes  dripped,  and  he  was  per- 
fectly still.  The  lattice,  flapping  to  and  fro,  had  grazed  one 
hand  that  rested  on  the  sill — no  blood  trickled  from  the  broken 
skin,  and  when  I  put  my  fingers  to  it  I  could  doubt  no  more — 
he  was  dead  and  stark  ! 

I  hasped  the  window ;  I  combed  his  long,  black  hair  from 
his  forehead ;  I  tried  to  close  his  eyes — to  extinguish,  if  pos- 
sible, that  frightful,  life-like  exultation,  before  any  one  else 
beheld  it.  They  would  not  shut — they  seemed  to  sneer  at  my 
attempts,  and  his  parted  lips  and  sharp,  white  teeth  sneered  too  ! 
Taken  with  another  fit  of  cowardice,  I  cried  out  for  Joseph. 
Joseph  shuffled  up,  and  made  a  noise,  but  resolutely  refused  to 
meddle  with  him. 

"  Th'  divil's  harried  off  his  soul,"  he  cried,  "  and  he  muh  hev 
his  carcass  intuh  t'  bargin,  for  ow't  aw  care  !  Ech  !  what  a 
wicked  un  he  looks,  grinning  at  death  !"  and  the  old  sinner 
grinned  in  mockery. 

I  thought  he  intended  to  cut  a  caper  round  the  bed ;  but 
suddenly  composing  himself,  he  fell  on  his  knees,  and  raised  his 
hands,  and  returned  thanks  that  the  lawful  master  and  the 
ancient  stock  were  restored  to  their  rights. 


WUTHrERING      HEIGHTS.  287 

I  felt  stunned  by  the  awful  event ;  and  my  memory  unavoid- 
ably recurred  to  former  times  with  a  sort  of  oppressive  sadness. 
But  poor  Hareton,  the  most  wronged,  was  the  only  one  that 
really  suffered  much.  He  sat  by  the  corpse  all  night,  weeping 
in  bitter  earnest.  He  pressed  its  hand,  and  kissed  the  sarcastic, 
savage  face  that  every  one  else  shrank  from  contemplating  ;  and 
bemoaned  him  with  that  strong  grief  which  springs  naturally 
from  a  generous  heart,  though  it  be  tough  as  tempered  steel. 

Kenneth  was  perplexed  to  pronounce  of  what  disorder  the 
master  died.  I  concealed  the  fact  of  his  having  swallowed 
nothing  for  four  days,  fearing  it  might  lead  to  trouble ;  and  then, 
I  am  persuaded,  he  did  not  not  abstain  on  purpose  :  it  was  the 
consequence  of  his  strange  illness,  not  the  cause. 

We  buried  him,  to  the  scandal  of  the  whole  neighborhood, 
as  he  had  wished.  Earnshaw  and  I,  the  sexton,  and  six  meu  to 
carry  the  coffin,  comprehended  the  whole  attendance. 

The  six  men  departed  when  they  had  let  it  down  into  the 
grave  :  we  stayed  to  see  it  covered.  Hareton,  with  a  streaming 
face,  dug  green  sods,  and  laid  them  over  the  brown  mold  him- 
self. At  present  it  is  as  smooth  and  verdant  as  its  companion 
mounds — -and  I  hope  its  tenant  sleeps  as  soundly.  But  the 
country  folks,  if  you  asked  them,  would  swear  on  their  Bibles 
that  he  walks.  There  are  those  who  speak  to  having  met  him 
near  the  church,  and  on  the  moor,  and  even  within  this  house. 
Idle  tales,  you'll  say,  and  so  say  I.  Yet  that  old  man  by  the 
kitchen  fire  affirms  he  has  seen  "  two  on  'em"  looking  out  of  his 
chamber  window,  on  every  rainy  night,  since  his  death — and  an 
odd  thing  happened  to  me  about  a  month  ago. 

I  was  going  to  the  Grange  one  evening — a  dark  evening 
threatening  thunder — and,  just  at  the  turn  of  the  Heights,  I  en 
countered  a  little  boy  with  a  sheep  and  two  lambs  before  him. 
He  was  crying  terribly,  and  I  supposed  the  lambs  were  skittish, 
and  would  not  be  guided. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  my  little  man  ?"  I  asked. 

"  They's  Heathcliff  and  a  woman  yonder,  under  t'  nab,"  hfe 
blubbered,  "  un'  aw  darnut  pass  'em." 

I  saw  nothing ;  but  neither  the  sheep  nor  he  would  go  on,  so 
I  bid  him  take  the  road  lower  down.  He  probably  raised  the 
phantoms  from  thinking,  as  he  traversed  the  moors  alone,  on 
the  nonsense  he  had  heard  his  parents  and  companions  repeat ; 
yet,  still,  I  don't  like  being  out  in  the  dark  now,  and  I  don't  like 
being  left  by  myself  in  this  grim  house.  I  can  not  help  it ;  1 
shall  be  glad  when  they  leave  it,  and  shift  to  the  Grange  ! 


288  WUTHERING     HEIGH  T  S. 

"They  are  going  to  the  Grange,  then  ?"  I  said. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mrs.  Dean,  "  as  soon  as  they  are  married ; 
and  that  will  be  on  New  Year's  day." 

"  And  who  will  live  here  then  ?" 

"  Why,  Joseph  will  take  care  of  the  house,  and,  perhaps,  a 
lad  to  keep  him  company.  They  will  live  in  the  kitchen,  and 
the  rest  will  be  shut  up." 

"  For  the  use  of  such  ghosts  as  choose  to  inhabit,"  I  observed. 

"  No,  Mr.  Lockwood,"  said  Nelly,  shaking  her  head.  "  I 
believe  the  dead  are  at  peace,  but  it  is  not  right  to  speak  of 
them  with  levity." 

At  that  moment  the  garden  gate  swung  to ;  the  ramblers 
were  returning. 

"  They  are  afraid  of  nothing,"  I  grumbled,  watching  their 
approach  through  the  window.  "  Together  they  would  brave 
Satan  and  all  his  legions." 

As  they  stepped  upon  the  door-stones,  and  halted  to  take  a 
last  look  at  the  moon,  or,  more  correctly,  at  each  other,  by  her 
light,  I  felt  irresistibly  impelled  to  escape  them  again ;  and, 
pressing  a  remembrance  into  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Dean,  and  disre- 
garding her  expostulations  at  my  rudeness,  I  vanished  through 
the  kitchen,  as  they  opened  the  house-door ;  and  so  should  have 
confirmed  Joseph  in  his  opinion  of  his  fellow-servant's  gay  indis- 
cretions, had  he  not,  fortunately,  recognized  me  for  a  respectable 
character,  by  the  sweet  ring  of  a  sovereign  at  his  feet. 

My  walk  home  was  lengthened  by  a  diversion  in  the  direction 
of  the  kirk.  When  beneath  its  walls,  I  perceived  decay  had 
made  progress,  even  in  seven  months — many  a  window  showed 
black  gaps  deprived  of  glass  ;  and  slates  jutted  off,  here  and 
there,  beyond  the  right  line  of  the  roof,  to  be  gradually  worked 
off  in  coming  autumn  storms. 

I  sought,  and  soon  discovered,  the  three  head-stones  on  the 
slope  next  the  moor — the  middle  one,  gray,  and  half  buried  in 
the  heath — Edgar  Linton's  only  harmonized  by  the  turf  and 
moss  creeping  up  its  foot — Heathcliff  's  still  bare. 

I  lingered  round  them,  under  that  benign  sky ;  watched  the 
moths  fluttering  among  the  heath  and  harebells;  listened  to 
the  soft  wind  breathing  through  the  grass ;  and  wondered  how 
any  one  could  ever  imagine  unquiet  slumbers  for  the  sleepers 
in  that  quiet  earth. 

THE     END. 


■ 
. '      .v 


